|
Breastfeeding: how can the drop
rate be improved?
Breastfeeding statistics have recently
been made public in the suburb region of
Montreal, in Canada. Breastfeeding
agencies were very pleased with the
overall rate of a whooping 77% nursing
rate at birth. The bad news is that the
rate of women still breastfeeding their
babies after 6 months was a disappointing
3%.
How can this tremendous drop be
explained? What can we do to encourage and
support breastfeeding after the first
months of life? These questions and many
more are being considered by organisms
promoting breastfeeding.
The first explanation a local medical
doctor has proposed is the way the rate of
breastfeeding at birth is calculated. The
simple question asked to the woman in
labor is: do you want to breastfeed your
baby? A yes, is then marked and accounted
for as a woman breastfeeding her newborn
baby.
This doctor says she has seen so many
women giving-up on breastfeeding after
sometimes only one five minutes try, that
the 77% rate is highly inflated by the
data collection system. Most women who
stop nursing their babies will do so in
the first week after birth. A repeat
follow-up call would show a drastic drop
in the overall breastfeeding rate after
the first week.
For
the powerful Hypnosis For Childbirth
Program : Hypno-Beginning, please CLICK
HERE
How can we explain that so many
women give-up on breastfeeding after only
one week of trying?
The first answer may be that we need a
better support fro breastfeeding mothers
and more clinics where mothers can be
re-assured and supported in their effort
to breastfeed. Another very important step
would be to have tangible supports for
women who are nursing. Education of
partners on how they can relieve their
nursing wife would be greatly helpful.
Another answer forwarded by the family
doctor who has delivered over 2500 babies
in her career is that some women will
answer that they want to breastfeed from
the pressure applied by society. It is now
'in fashion' to breastfeed and a new
mother might fear to be judged if she does
not breastfeed her baby. She then nurses
but is tempted to give-up at the slightest
set back.
"I have seen women giving-up on
breastfeeding after a five minute tryout"
says the doctor. "To me, it seemed clear
that this mother felt more like she had to
breastfeed her baby more than she wanted",
she concludes.
In answer to the question of how we can
improve the drop rate of breastfeeding,
the answers are multiple. Strong
supporting groups and a loving spouse are
the two most important factors. Making
private areas readily available for
nursing mothers are a must. Proper data
collection is also needed to get a more
realistic picture of the breastfeeding
rate in North America.
A one week follow-up call or better yet
visit is mandatory to get the more
accurate rate of mothers who are still
breastfeeding and helping the ones who
need support.
"A stronger belief of the virtues of
breast milk is also a must" continues this
doctor who does medical mission in third
world countries. "In such countries like
Honduras and Bolivia where most citizens
are poor, breastfeeding rates are above
95% until the baby is well over one year
old. They have no other option than
breastfeed and they strongly believe
breast milk is the best food for their
growing babies - and they are right!"
concludes Dr Fiset with a smile.
For
the powerful Hypnosis For Childbirth
Program : Hypno-Beginning, please CLICK
HERE
|
