5 Reasons Why It Takes a Village to Support a Breastfeeding Mom
(PRWEB) July 31, 2013 -- The 2013 World Breastfeeding Week theme “Breastfeeding Support: Close to Mothers” emphasizes the importance of a supportive network for breastfeeding moms. Even when mothers are able to get off to a good nursing start, there is far too often in the weeks or months following delivery, a sharp decline in breastfeeding rates and practices especially exclusive breastfeeding, when they do not have adequate support.
Data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services revealed that although 76.9% of new mothers initiated breastfeeding at birth, this dropped to 61.3% at 3 months and 47.2% at 6 months. Exclusive breastfeeding rates dropped even further to 36% at 3 months and 16.3% at 6 months. The sharp decrease often occurs during the period when mothers do not visit a healthcare facility and it is during these times, that a community support system for the new mom becomes essential.
So, what are the five reasons why it takes a village to support a breastfeeding mom?
Nowadays, especially with the changes in society and urbanization, new mothers can no longer rely solely on the traditional support from their female family members but must instead look towards their broader circles in society. The absense or presence of any of these areas can have a direct impact on their ability to continue nursing their new infants:
- Healthcare systems - Birth facility policies and practices significantly impact whether a woman chooses to start breastfeeding and how long she continues to breastfeed. It also determines how much overall support for breastfeeding she is likely to receive immediately after delivery and how likely her baby is to receive formula in the first 2 days.
- Family and social network – New moms need the emotional, mental and physical support of their husbands/partners/fathers of their children, extended family members and friends, both at home, or when they are out and about. The lack of support or even resistance from any of these parties makes it even more difficult for new mothers to continue nursing their babies.
- Workplace and employment – Working mothers with supportive employers will have the opportunity and option of being able to safely express and store milk at work, thereby enabling them to continue nursing longer.
- Government/Legislation - If the government doesn’t say it’s indecent, why should other people? Many laws have been passed in the United States that protect a woman’s right to breastfeed in any place, public or private, as long as she’s authorised to be there.
- Response to Crisis or Emergency – New mothers need recourse if they find themselves in an unexpected or serious situation such as critical illness, divorce planning or even severe post-partum depression. The assistance from trained local community support contacts will help direct them to the right resources.
Choosing whether or not to breastfeed is certainly a very personal decision and one that ultimately must be respected but it is also the support given by the people and the community around her that will help enable a new mother to continue nursing in the long run.
Kathryn Michaels is the author of Bedroom Secrets, a reality-inspired series about millennium moms, released by Islandreamz Publishing and available on Amazon in paperback and on kindle, at http://www.amazon.com/Kathryn-Michaels/e/B00AQKP6Y4. Her reality-inspired novel, "Crazy for Milk" takes the reader through the journey of a millennium mom as she tries to be the everything to everyone – the perfect wife, mother and employee – and her experiences as she learns to deal with breastfeeding, intimacy, physical exhaustion, sleep deprivation, guilt, loneliness and fear. The question the book poses is, “How does a millennium mom juggle all the internal and external expectations without losing herself?” For more information about her books or Kathryn Michaels, please log on to http://www.writemekathryn.com/. Members of the media who wish to review her books may request a complimentary copy by contacting the publisher, Islandreamz Publishing at +1 (416) 275-5195.
Kathryn Michaels, Islandreamz Publishing, http://www.writemekathryn.com/, +1 (416) 275 5195, [email protected]
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