Breastfeeding

The topic of breastfeeding is high on my list of interests. I still have feelings of bitterness and regret that I didn't breastfeed past a few weeks. Granted, I had outside stress that played a huge role, but my experience with the US standard for breastfeeding still remains. Breastfeeding was an "option", I had to search and inquire if I was interested, I struggled and the help I was given ended as I walked out the hospital doors. Pumps were expensive and a community of support didn't exist for me. Though I had a strong desire, I eventually gave up. I wish otherwise.

The renowned non-profit organization, Save the Children, creates an annual "State of the World's Mothers" report. In 2012 the theme was "the critical impact of nutrition in the first 1000 days of life", and it contained an Infant and Toddler Early Feeding Score and a Breastfeeding Policy Scorecard. "Rankings are based on maternity leave laws, right to daily nursing breaks, percentage of hospitals that are baby friendly, state of policy support for the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and breastfeeding practices. Of the 36 countries listed, Norway ranks first with a score of 9.2 and the USA ranks last with a score of 4.2."(nurturedchild.ca) Norway, as a country, seems to support motherhood and infancy more than the US. Mothers can take 36 weeks of maternity leave with 100% of their pay, or 46 weeks with 80% of their pay. Additionally, they can take up to 12 months of child care leave (which can be shared with the father). Furthermore, all work places support a mother's right to nursing breaks.

I also found a New York Times article titled "Norway leads Industrialized Nations back to breastfeeding". This article was written back in 2003, therefore, since the Save the Children report was just last year, Norway has been leading and the US has been lagging for about a decade now. The article explains that while breastfeeding is more of an option in the US, it is the norm in Norway. Everyone does it, there isn't a big market for formula in the stores or hospitals. There is a lot of support for breastfeeding, and it is just normalcy. The 1990's is when the idea of "baby-friendly" hospitals came about, and babies stayed in the same rooms as their mothers instead of in nurseries, and mothers were encouraged to feed their babies on demand rather than on a schedule. Women were encouraged and supported with breastfeeding, and extra help was always offered. "Norwegian mothers say everything about the culture compels them to breast-feed."(New York Times)  



This information most definitely impacts my future work in that I plan on providing an immense amount of education and resources to the parents on breastfeeding. I want to offer support for anyone interested or struggling. I want to connect with whatever community I decide to start my center in and refer parents to breastfeeding organizations there, if they have any. I want to bring in speakers from La Leche League and offer their services.

Honestly, I want to provide other parents with the help and knowledge that I, unfortunately, didn't receive. I care about struggling parents, parents without the knowledge or resources, and parents who have a curiosity. I plan on having many, many resources for them.


References:

La Leche League International

 http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/21/world/norway-leads-industrial-nations-back-to-breast-feeding.html?pagewanted=2&src=pm

http://nurturedchild.ca/index.php/2012/05/11/the-best-and-worst-places-in-the-industrialized-world-for-breastfeeding-support/

http://kellymom.com/fun/trivia/bf-rates-2004/