#BTColumn – Nothing better than breastfeeding

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the author(s) do not represent the official position of Barbados TODAY.

by Dr. Alison Bernard

In light of the global shortage of baby formula and locally, a shortage of a  specific brand of formula including specialty milks, the Breastfeeding and Child Nutrition Foundation (BCNF) is reminding all mothers, and especially pregnant and new mothers, that breast milk is still the most highly recommended food for babies in their first two years of life.

We support the recommendations of the World Health Organisation which says that babies should exclusively breastfeed for six months after which they should start appropriate complementary foods while they continue breastfeeding for a minimum of two years. Exclusive breastfeeding means that no food, water or formula should be given to the infant and only vitamin drops, or syrups and medicines may be provided.

Exclusive breastfeeding has long been reported to be associated with conditions which include, a reduced risk of common childhood illnesses such as ear infections, gastroenteritis and respiratory infections, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and decreased risk of allergy.

Children who breastfeed are reportedly smarter on IQ tests, are less likely to be overweight or obese and have a reduced risk of developing noncommunicable diseases
in childhood and as adults.

Breastfeeding is also beneficial for mothers as the rates of breast cancer are reported to decrease by nearly 5 per cent for every year she breastfeeds and rates of ovarian cancer, postpartum depression and maternal diabetes and heart disease are also reduced. Research shows that upscaling breastfeeding worldwide would have a significant impact on healthcare costs
and productivity, with a savings of $302 billion US annually.

The benefits of breastfeeding are not only related to health issues. It is a renewable resource, unlike formula, also referred to as breastmilk substitutes, which have a large ecological footprint and requires the use of plastic, metal and significant use of water in order to manufacture 1 kg of the powder.

This disparity has huge implications for the climate change issue and policies related to trade associated with these substitutes should be seriously considered amongst the suite of policies being considered for climate action by government at this time.

Breastfeeding is also free at the source and available on demand. A mother could save significantly over the six-month period of exclusive breastfeeding which is a great benefit in these challenging economic times.

However, we know that some mothers either cannot or choose not to breastfeed and at the moment some families are rightly concerned about being able to source this product for their little ones. Even more worrying is the fact that this scarcity may be an issue lasting for several months. The BCNF urges mothers to continue to use recommended breastmilk substitutes safely.

We recommend using the product as prescribed on the packaging and to refrain from either attempting to make home-made formulas, which are unlikely to meet the nutritional requirements of baby, not starting complementary foods before the recommended 6 months or hoarding the product as there may be the tendency to do under these circumstances.

Parents are also reminded that barley water and other similar homemade mixtures used in our cultural context, which are being used more widely at this time of shortage, provide no significant nutritional value to their babies and should not be used as a replacement for breastmilk or even formula.

The need to rely on formula, resulting in the disparate impact of this shortage on these families, is likely as a result of critical underlying systemic issues globally but which undoubtedly affect Barbados as well and which must be urgently addressed if we are never to experience this catastrophic impact on our children’s food security again.

The fact is that, in spite of its benefits, rates of breastfeeding worldwide are suboptimal with only 44 per cent of children less than six months of age exclusively breastfeeding. In Barbados this rate is only 19.7 per cent, while conversely rates of overweight and obesity are, unfortunately, trending in the opposite direction, with 1 in every 3 children overweight or obese.

The reasons for these low rates are likely associated with the barriers to breastfeeding that exist worldwide but also most definitely here in Barbados. Issues around inadequate breastfeeding support by maternal support systems- professional and personal, lack of enabling breastfeeding environments and inadequate employment and breastfeeding workplace policies to enable mothers to breastfeed and no or inadequate legislation in support of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk substitutes to counter aggressive formula marketing tactics, making breastfeeding exclusively or at all, a difficult option for mothers.

Tackling these issues requires decision making and interventions starting with, but not confined to, our policymakers. We, therefore, ask our government to increase their investment in supporting and protecting breastfeeding through cost effective public health interventions and necessary public policies and legislation, that enable mothers to breastfeed for longer, where they want to and without undue influence from exploitative formula marketing tactics.

The benefits to the health of our children, mothers, our communities, to the environment and to our economy are innumerable.

Response to breastfeeding needs to be a societal one and we implore all sectors of society to play their part in creating a robust breastfeeding culture here in Barbados.  The BCNF will continue to support the Barbados government in all their efforts to promote and protect optimal child nutrition.

We also encourage all mothers to seek information from polyclinics, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, private physicians and the National Nutrition Centre regarding advice and information around breastfeeding, introducing appropriate complementary foods and the safe use of breastmilk substitutes including infant formula should it be necessary to use.

Dr. Alison Bernard is Executive Director of the Breastfeeding and Child Nutrition Foundation. Email: thebcnf@yahoo.com