WORKING women who have recently given birth are urged not to switch to supplementary milk through bottlefeeding, as breastmilk contains nutrients for a child’s optimal growth and development.
“For the first six months, he (the baby) does not require anything else to eat and drink. Breastmilk is specific for humans and is the perfect food for the baby,” said Specialist Pediatrician Dr Hjh Royahati Hj Mohd Taib yesterday.
Dr Hjh Royahati said the problem within the Bruneian community was that working women substituted breastfeeding for bottlefeeding because it was the “easier option”.
She said: “This is a problem and these women need to be more educated about breastfeeding.”
However, she explained there were external factors involved as to why some women turned to bottlefeeding.
“The community needs to be more understanding towards mothers who have just given birth, and give them time to breastfeed at their workplace,” she said.
The specialist pediatrician added that workplaces should also provide facilities for working mothers, such as fridges to store their breast milk. Stressing that breastfeeding be made a “norm”, Dr Hjh Royahati said these mothers needed to be taken care of first.
“First, we need to change the mindsets of the society and workplace. We also need to change the mindsets of mothers, to be more determined to breastfeed and for their families to support them,” she explained.
Furthermore, she added women should erase all things “such as advertisements” that emphasises on bottlefeeding.
Dr Hjh Royahati said supplements should only be given to an infant when the child is unable to breastfeed.
Part of efforts undertaken at the Division of Obstetrician and Gynaecology at the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (Ripas) Hospital to encourage mothers to breastfeed, are ante-natal classes which provide talks (information and education), as well as a clinic specifically for breastfeeding.
“Since 2000, our division has tried to make the environment in the hospital baby-friendly. Also, we make sure new mothers give their infants breastmilk within every half an hour to an hour. This is to ensure the establishment of breastfeeding is ensured prior to the mother’s discharge at the hospital,” she said.
In a previous report, Acting Principal Nursing Officer Hjh Meriah Pengarah Hj Buntar said: “Breastfeeding is the start of a healthy life as it ensures the reduction of disease infection, prevents dental problems and according to medical research could also lessen the tendency of becoming obese.” (RTM1)
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