Step Up for Breastfeeding in Barbados!

August is the month in which we celebrate World Breastfeeding Week!

August 1st - 7th means the topic is all things breastfeeding, and there is plenty to discuss.

Opinions and thoughts around breastfeeding vary widely and have a massive impact on the mother and the society she is a part of. Breastfeeding is a subject that is extremely emotive, and whether the women in any society breastfeeds or not, can have significant implications on the health and wellbeing of that community.

Let me first start by saying that breastfeeding is an individual choice that must be honoured and respected. Most women can, but not every woman wants to breastfeed, and this fact must always be considered. Never-the-less, countries around the world have placed a focus on the importance of supporting, protecting and empowering women to breastfeed their babies in order to boost the health of their nations.

This year’s WABA (World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action 2022) theme for World Breastfeeding Week has its focus on creating a ‘Warm Chain’ of breastfeeding supporters, who ‘Step Up For Breastfeeding’. This support must be reinforced and enabled across the board. This includes on Governmental/health system levels, professional levels, community/ peer support, and on the levels of the women and families themselves.

So what can a mother do to ‘Step Up’ and increase her chances of breastfeeding success?

As with any successful story, it usually starts with the person who wants to succeed. Here are some pointers:

1. Believe in yourself and be determined. A large component of breastfeeding is commitment and determination.

2. Learn a little about the practice and skill of breastfeeding before baby arrives

3. Speak to other mothers and professionals who have had positive experiences of breastfeeding, for the best tips and support.

4. Acknowledge that it may be challenging, but know that you can get through and overcome any hurdles

5. Strive for a low intervention birth if possible. Instrumental deliveries (use of forceps/ ventouse suction) or caesarean section can decrease the chance of having skin to skin contact and early breastfeeding initiation, which can have a knock on effect on breastfeeding success.

6. Gather your supporters. Harness people to be on your side; your partner, your mother, aunt or best friend. Let them know of your decision to breastfeed and ask for their encouragement ahead of time.

7. Have at hand all the tools you may need that can make breastfeeding easier (colostrum harvesting syringes nipple creams/shields, breast pads, breast pump, lactation teas, freezer bags for expressed milk etc.).

8. Make contact with professionals who are trained and ready to help and support you on your journey (midwives at your Polyclinic, The Breastfeeding & Child Nutrition Foundation (BCNF).

Mothers can empower themselves with these tools and ‘Step Up’ to breastfeeding; but for most, this is not enough. Women and their families also need the outer community and institutional based resources to ‘Step Up’ in order to synchronise with the mother‘s own efforts. This ‘Warm Chain’ of support for mothers in Barbados, is helping to increase and sustain breastfeeding rates and include:

• The midwife or doctor assisting you at your delivery who facilitates undisturbed skin to skin contact, breastfeeding within the first hour and support with latching baby onto the breast. Evidence suggests these simple acts increase the rates of exclusive breastfeeding significantly.

• Midwives at the Polyclinic where you attend with your infant for postnatal care and wellbeing checks, are available for breastfeeding education and support. Both antenatal and postnatal teaching sessions are known to help mothers succeed with breastfeeding; ask about sessions and be involved.

• The BCNF is a local charity and NGO with a mission to ‘Improve child health and nutrition in Barbados, by raising awareness of the importance and benefits of breastfeeding…’and much more. Among other services, the BCNF offers community support via the Baby & Me Breastfeeding Support Group, where on a monthly basis, on-line for 2 hours, evidence based information is shared with mothers by the organization’s experienced support group coordinator, volunteers and assistants. Contact the BCNF and find out more about how they can help you ‘Step Up’ to breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding can be an emotionally and physically challenging endeavour for some; anything close to our hearts usually is! So let us together in Barbados strengthen and widen our own ‘Warm Chain’ of breastfeeding support in our communities. Our mothers and babies deserve it!