Barbados’ Breastfeeding Culture-More Vital Than Ever

The human body never ceases to amaze us in so many ways, especially in its ability to produce food for another human, or humans in the case of twins/triplets etc. Just think, those organs on the female chest, the breasts/mammary glands, are able to create a delicious nutritious liquid that even adjusts to climate, age and individual health needs of the baby!

Breastfeeding is sometimes referred to as a ‘Superpower’. It is one of those bodily functions that most women are able to do, and is an expression of the power of the female body and our Creator; But at the same time, it can be loaded with an array of emotions and challenges.

I remember, as a first time breastfeeding mother years ago, feeling nervous about breastfeeding comfortably in public. That feeling very quickly dissipated as I got familiar and confident with what I was doing.  We humans naturally feel uncomfortable with any new activity not part of our normal routine, but when you repeat an act every day, 20 times a day, it soon becomes the new normal and no longer an issue.

I remember one day being in a bank queue with my loudly crying, very young baby. A sympathetic stranger said “Come on, baby’s calling, bring out the ‘bubby’ and feed!” Being a midwife and breastfeeding advocate, I was always thrilled to hear such encouragement. It took the stress out and made easier the intimate act of breastfeeding in public.

The normalization of breastfeeding is when we create a culture that embraces the breastfeeding mother/baby, emboldens women to breastfeed when, where and if they so choose- and it’s simply no big deal. In many countries, the normalisation of breastfeeding is more pertinent than ever because we now arguably have more of a formula-feeding culture, which is considered easier and more acceptable by some but is associated with, amongst other things, increased rates of childhood obesity.

Though Barbados still has a culture more accepting of breastfeeding than in other countries, some incidences have been reported by mothers, which indicate otherwise. So what do we have in place in Barbados that helps to continue creating an atmosphere of the normalisation and promotion of Breastfeeding?

• In Barbados, there are no laws or policies that prohibit a mother from breastfeeding her child in a public place.

• The Breastfeeding & Child Nutrition Foundation’ (The BCNF) is a local charity, working to ensure that the breastfeeding culture in Barbados is preserved and enhanced. Low breastfeeding rates on the Island of below 20%, were confirmed by a study undertaken in 2016 as collaboration between UWI and the BCNF, showing that clear action needs to be taken to empower and support breastfeeding in order to increase these rates. This is one of the aims of the BCNF, and is being undertaken by way of community support for mothers, training, education and advocating for policy change.

• Our public hospital became a ‘Baby Friendly Hospital’. This is a UNICEF designation that Barbados first achieved back in the 1990’s and was reaccredited in 2017. Stringent standards are passed before accreditation is conferred to a health facility, and must be maintained in order to keep the accreditation.

• NGO’s such as the Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) have increased their focus on the positive impact of breastfeeding and early foods on improving the nation’s health. This is a deliberate collaborative effort to educate families about the health benefits of breastfeeding and healthy childhood diets which aids in combating the increased prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and obesity. Normalising breastfeeding could also lead to a normalisation of healthy eating on the whole.

• Barbados is one of many countries who have adopted voluntary compliance to the International Code of Marketing of Breast milk Substitutes, a World Health Assembly (WHA) passed by WHO in 1981; this international policy recommends restrictions on marketing and advertising of breast milk substitutes (such as formula milk). This ensures that mothers aren’t discouraged from breastfeeding, and that substitutes, if needed, are used safely and responsibly.  Adopting The International Code of Marketing of Breast milk Substitutes, shows Barbados’ commitment to improving the culture of breastfeeding on the Island.

Our immune systems, health and wellbeing in the future, depends on what we feed ourselves now and the quality of the first foods given to our children. Preserving Barbados’s breastfeeding culture is more vital than we can truly understand. Let’s keep it up!

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Andrea Bonita Jordan is a registered Midwife, Breastfeeding Specialist and co-founder of two charities: The Breastfeeding and Child Nutrition Foundation (The BCNF charity # 1169) and Better Birthing in Bim .