Simple Solutions
by Kate Kahn - 13th December 2007
Breastfeeding is a wonderful thing. But it can also be overwhelming for a new mother. There are those who say that hospitals often sabotage the process by handing out free formula in baby bags when a mother leaves the hospital. But let's be real. Whether or not a goodie bag is provided at the end of the hospital stay is not the determining factor of whether a person continues to breastfeed or not. There are so many other contributing factors.
It's no secret that the demographic that is most likely to continue breastfeeding are women who are well-educated and in a higher socio-economic bracket. Afterall, they are the ones who can often afford not to work, or if they do work, they have access to help. They are also the ones who know about, and have access to, all the educational tools and support available (lactation centers, breast pumps etc).
If we want to increase breastfeeding rates it seems to me there's a two-step process. The first step starts with hospital policies. Some hospitals now have lactation center services available in the hospital so that it's not just the responsibility of nurses who already have so much on their plates. Another idea: while many hospitals place the baby in a nursery in order to give the new mom some much needed rest, there are other ways to accomplish that. Some are initiating programs where the newborn stays in the hospital room the whole time but there is supervision so that mom can sleep. Of course this requires proper staffing and education and I know that's a funding battle. Other hospitals are making it a point to train their nurses to make sure babies spend time skin-to-skin with their mothers in the first hour after delivery. And obviously, for new moms whose first language is not English, interpreters need to be provided.
The second step requires outreach on the outside. For those moms in lower socio-economic brackets, educational and practical support is needed. We need to make sure they have access to the same services that their wealthier counterparts do. If they are having problems breastfeeding, let's get them rides to lactation centers. Or, let's bring lactation consultants to their homes during off hours, which are not only often the times they are needed, but also allow a woman to work, which may be an issue.
Increasing breastfeeding rates is something we should all strive for. But let's look at some easy solutions that could be put in place rather than lose some practices that are also necessary sometimes, like supplementing with formula when needed. They are not mutually exclusive!
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