I was very fortunate that I was able to deliver P back in Sydney. The facilities such as prenatal exercise with a physiotherapist, aquanatal, breastfeeding support and a huge team of pro-breastfeeding midwives (just to name a few) truly prepared me for life with a baby.
Which is why, now that I am in Jakarta and I listen to so many stories of mums struggling to breastfeed, it irks me. Those who know me would know that I am very pro-breastfeeding and am thankful to have received the education I did.
Many new mums have told me they resorted to infant formula because of low milk supply or the nurses told them that their newborn (under 3 days old) was hungry and needed formula. Thus begins the vicious cycle of poor latching, slow let down and lack of milk supply. These new mums do not realize that only 2-5% of breastfeeding mothers have low quality or low milk supply.
It is very frustrating when the mother is keen on breastfeeding yet isn't provided the moral support and education vitally needed during the first few days in the hospital. I'm not sure about other cities in Indonesia but I do know that not all hospitals in Jakarta allow rooming with your newborn. How then ,would mother and baby establish a breastfeeding routine? Not to mention bonding!
To all soon-to-be mummies who intend to breastfeed. EDUCATION is KEY! Knowledge, moral support, determination and patience are vital in successful breastfeeding. Also remember ,that you should never judge your milk production with others as no two babies are alike. Just like how we adults have varying appetites.
Perhaps Indonesia needs to begin a breastfeeding awareness campaign of sorts and have them instilled within all hospitals. I will not go on about the superiority of breastmilk, the abundant benefits the child gets nutritionally and how latching in itself is a positive stimulation as that would be a whole other long winded entry.
A midwife once told me, bearing in mind most infant formulas are made from cows milk.
"Compare a human brain and a cows brain. Now, would you still feed formula to your infant?"
Something to think about isn't it?
