A Baby-Friendly Society?
Initiative seeks to support breastfeeding
By Diane Walder
Research shows that breastmilk is the best first food for infants and provides health advantages throughout the lifespan. Studies estimate that health care costs would be reduced by $3.6 billion every year if American mothers initiated and continued breastfeeding their babies.
Yet in the United States formula feeding is still the norm, causing thousands of trips to the doctor that could have been avoided.. Why aren't more mothers breastfeeding?
According to Aszani Kunkler, founder of the Madison Birth Center, the answer is cultural barriers.
"It's rare that a mother can't breastfeed her baby for physical or medical reasons," she says. "But in our society, there simply hasn't been comprehensive support and education that encourages mothers to do what's in the best interests of both them and their infants."
In fact, for many peopy the mere sight of a breastfeeding mother in a public place can incite such squirmy discomfort that the mother is asked to sequester herself, as was the case for a Madison mother at East Towne Mall. And who hasn't heard about Barbara Walters' distress at sitting next to a breasfeeding mother on a plane?
Challenging these barriers and providing an incentive for health centers to adopt practices to support breastfeeding are the World Health Organization and UNICEF, which formed the Baby-Friendly™ Hospital Initiative (BFHI). BFHI is a global program that encourages and recognizes hospitals and birthing centers that offer the gold standard level of care for lactation. BFHI helps health centers provide mothers information, confidence, and skills needed to successfully breastfeed their babies.
The Madison Birth Center is one of only 50 in the U.S. that have received the Baby-Friendly recognition, which involves an intensive on-site, three day survey that assesses compliance with its 10 steps for successful breastfeeding. One factor was its breastfeeding rates, recognized in 2004 by the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) as one of the best in the country. "Our breastfeeding rates are well above the national average and exceed the United States Healthy People 2010 goals for breastfeeding," says Kunkler.
A Baby-Friendly™health facility contributes significantly to the health of women, infants, and families in a community. "Expectant parents should research the breadth of lactation support services when selecting a facility in which to have their baby," says Kunkler.
Regarding the cultural attitudes surrounding breastfeeding in public places, State Senator Fred Risser has introduced legislation (SB358) that would protect the rights of mothers to breastfeed in public places with no interference. Although grateful for the support demonstrated by the bill, Kunkler noted "the need to legislate protection for breastfeeding highlights how broken our cultural perceptions have become toward this life-giving activity."
For more information about the Baby Friend Hospital Initiative and to locate a Baby Friendly facility, visit www.babyfriendlyusa.org.
