Breastfeeding Q&A Newsletter

Helping mothers breastfeed through

mother-to-mother support

November 2013
Issue 2

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

1

World Breastfeeding Week

2013

You can make a difference!

Namitas story

Useful websites

Things not to say

Member Profile: Sandra

World Breastfeeding Week 2013

Mother Support: Close to Mothers
The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) was formed in 1991
to act on the Innocenti Declaration (1990) to protect, promote and
support breastfeeding. A day dedicated to breastfeeding was suggested;
the idea of a day's celebration was later turned into a week.
This has become to be known as World Breastfeeding Week (WBW)
celebrated every 1-7 August to commemorate the Innocenti Declaration.
Now it involves over 170 countries and is endorsed by UNICEF, WHO,
FAO and IPA. WBW is celebrated in the UAE in the second full week of
November.
This years theme, Breastfeeding Support: Close to Mothers highlights
the importance of Peer Counselling and community support. The
objectives of WBW 2013 are:

1. To draw attention to the importance of Peer Support in helping mothers to establish and
sustain breastfeeding.
2. To inform people of the highly effective benefits of Peer Counselling, and unite efforts to
expand peer counselling programmes.
3. To encourage breastfeeding supporters, regardless of their educational background, to step
forward and be trained to support mothers and babies.
4. To identify local community support contacts for breastfeeding mothers, that women can go
to for help and support after giving birth.
5. To call on governments and maternity facilities globally to actively implement the Ten Steps,
in particular Step 10, to improve duration and rates of exclusive breastfeeding.

NBW events in Dubai / Northern Emirates

Sat 9th November:

Breastfeeding Q&A social at More Caf G&D Park, Dubai, 10:30am.

All welcome.

Mon 11th November: Breastfeeding Q&A meeting in Fujairah; coffee, chat and DVD, 5pm.
Contact 050-3931389 for information.
Tues 12th November: Inauguration ceremony of NBW activities at Latifa Hospital, Dubai, 10:30am.
All welcome.
Wed 13th November: Mediclinic City Hospital talks and lunch at Mohamed Bin Rashid Academic
Centre, Dubai Healthcare City, 11am-3pm. To register (free), e-mail
fadia.nasrallah@mediclinic.ae.
Sat 16th November: National Conference on Holistic Modalities Supporting Breastfeeding, organized
by SKH Hospital, Ajman. For information and to register, e-mail
khawla.attaya@wareed.gov.ae.

Page 2

You can make a difference!

By Sin Khoury

Breastfeeding support in its oldest, most enduring form women learning without
pressure, over time, from women they want to emulate.

So IBCLC Diane Weissinger beautifully describes the nature of breastfeeding support groups.
This is the way we are meant to learn to breastfeed (the experts call it observational
learning), by seeing it happen naturally all around us, and with the help of experienced
mums in our community. Yet in this day and age this often doesnt happen; older women in
our family and circle of friends may not have breastfed, and our society and media typically
treat breastfeeding as something to be hidden away. So intentional peer support whether
one-to-one
or in a group setting becomes all the more important.

Peer support is important for a number of other reasons. Breastfeeding support is hard to
come by in hospital immediately following the birth; pediatricians are not routinely trained
in breastfeeding management, information on the Internet is notoriously unreliable, and in
any case, research (and Im sure our own experiences) tells us that mothers preferred
source of information is other mothers.
Individual peer support and attendance at
breastfeeding groups have both been found to
increase rates of breastfeeding initiation,

exclusivity and duration. This can only be good
news for mothers and babies, as these all have

lifelong effects on health and well-being. But

its not all about the numbers! Peer support
can
improve the quality of our breastfeeding
Breastfeeding Q&A getexperience, too. Research shows the following
together in Fujairah
psycho-social benefits to peer support groups:

They provide flexibility, a sense of control, & a safe place to rehearse and perform
breastfeeding in front of others

They respect diversity, ensure inclusivity, stimulate community empowerment

They affirm and normalise breastfeeding experiences

They increase levels of self-esteem, empowerment and satisfaction

They help mothers gain a feeling of self-reliance and reassurance

Whether one-to-one or as part of a group, we can all play an important role in
empowering, encouraging and supporting new mums. Lend a breastfeeding book to an
expectant mum. Pass on a list of support groups, reliable Internet sites, helpline
numbers and contact details for IBCLCs. Call up a new mum a few days after the birth
and ask her how things are going. Take round a pack of energy bars or muffins and slip
in a leaflet on breastfeeding. Bring round dinner so she can spend the evening cluster
feeding on the sofa. Offer to take her to a support group meeting. Share your own
breastfeeding story with her. Attend or organize group meetings. Train as a peer
supporter. And participate in our Facebook group. Im sure you can think of many
other ways in which you can help. You can make a difference!

Women will succeed if just one person really believes they can do it and that belief along
with skilled and knowledgeable support is often sadly missing.
Carmen Duffy, UNICEF

Page 3

Namitas story
By Namita Bhandola
Everyone loves a newborn with their skin-so-soft, and smell so sweet, the tiny little bundles are
priceless. And when the little angels cry in hunger, you just put them to your breast and their
need is taken care of - right? WRONG. As easy as it seems, there is nothing easy about
breastfeeding. It does get very, very easy eventually, but for some, the learning curve is quite
steep. I can say this as I am one of those people.
Throughout my first pregnancy, I was quite certain about my desire to breastfeed. I tried to read
as much as possible, but left the more detailed information and the useful videos (from you tube)
for the last days. Little did I know that my baby had different plans. At 36+ weeks, I woke up in
surprise one day as my water broke. After 33 hours of labor, my baby was finally born. I had read
about the importance of putting the baby to breast soon after birth, but he was born with
respiratory distress and soon after birth, admitted to NICU for observation. I just got a glimpse of
him while getting stitched up.
As my plans of immediately trying to breastfeed my baby lay in tatters, I asked for a breast pump
from hospital staff and started pumping. I was prepared for nothing coming out of my breast, and
nothing did come. Meanwhile, my baby was started on formula from the bottle in the NICU. I
rested that night and tried pumping again the next day, washing from the bottle the few drops of
colostrum that I had managed to pump. From there on, I started pumping
every 3 hours, and was washing away all the colostrum I collected as I thought One very sensible nurse
it was such a small quantity, most of the time, just a few drops. One very
advised me to pass
sensible nurse advised me to pass whatever little quantity of milk I collected
whatever little quantity of
to NICU instead of washing it away. The NICU staff was very helpful, and
milk I collected to NICU
encouraged me to pass on each and every drop of little milk that there was,
as it was being fed to my baby through syringe. I, literally, cried over spilt milk!
As I was getting ready to go home sans my baby, my husband was sent for an emergency shopping
trip to get a double electric breast pump and all the peripherals to help me continue pumping.
Back home, with no baby, I was pumping like clockwork and getting more milk. The NICU nurses
encouraged me to keep pumping and bringing them the milk. I still hadn't attempted
breastfeeding when one of the nurses suggested I visit my baby at his feeding time and to try
breastfeeding. Taking my tiny baby to my breast for the first time, I didn't know what to do,
neither did he.
After 3 days, my baby was ready for discharge and I decided to spend one more night in the
pediatric ward with him to help me as I didnt even know how to change a diaper, leave aside
breastfeeding. Unfortunately, the pediatric ward doesn't have much support for breastfeeding.
And while I called on nurses to guide me to get my baby to latch, he was constantly refusing the
breast.
Back home, I was doing mixed feeding (formula plus breast milk) and pumping continuously. It was
Day 4 and my milk was coming in finally, but my baby was still not latching on. He'd started
screaming bloody murder every time I took him to the breast. Filled with despair, I got in touch
with the breastfeeding support group. That was the single most assertive action I had taken. I got
a lot of support and encouragement, and some very, very helpful information about effective
pumping, and what I could do to next help me breastfeed. Armed with the information, I booked
an appointment to see a lactation consultant in the next few days, and was trying everything to
help me pump better. By the end of the week, I was able to pump enough milk to switch my baby
to breast milk completely from the bottle.

Page 4
Later in the week, a visit to the lactation consultant just
confirmed that my baby had no issues with latching/ sucking but
was used to the bottle. I was encouraged to try different
positions, different feed timings, mixing up the bottle and breast
and a lot of other things to get him back to the breast. There
were times when he would latch, take a few sucks and cry for
bottle. I could not see him cry and after a few failed attempts,
would eventually give him the bottle.
I had to be very careful with my pumping schedule, and the early
days are just a blur between feeding, burping and pumping. I was
careful not to miss even a single pumping session, and was
pumping after my sons each feed. Through all the trying times,
my husband and family has been my pillar of strength, helping me
Namita and her son
and encouraging me in every way. I also got a lot of words of
support and encouragement from the ladies in the group. I came in contact with some very
lovely ladies from the group, and they all had only positive vibes and messages to give. Every
single word of support helped me to stay determined to not give up. And in the end, my
perseverance paid off, when one day my baby had one full feed from the breast just like that.
After that we never looked back. He was taking the breast like a champion, and I never
offered him a bottle again. I am proud to say that at two years plus, he is still breastfeeding
and going strong.
If I could go back in time, there are a lot of things I would have done differently in the early
days. I would have prepared myself better by watching all the breastfeeding videos, would
have never thrown the initial milk, would have started kangaroo care and skin-to-skin with my
newborn in NICU, and reached out to the support group even before the baby was born.
Sometimes, just sharing the experience and knowing you are not alone is enough.
Hopefully, I will get a chance to make amends the second time around as I prepare myself for
a new baby. And don't be surprised to see me hanging around the online community often.
With the kind of support I received, if I can help even a single mother in any small way, I
would consider myself lucky.

Useful Websites
There are many websites out there that sometimes its difficult to
know which are reliable. These are three which many mums find
to be helpful (although there are lots more!), all offering evidencebased information.
http://www.drjacknewman.com/
Newman Breastfeeding Clinic & Institute
Fact-sheets and videos
http://www.kellymom.com/
Kellymom: Breastfeeding and Parenting
Articles and links on a very wide range of topics related to breastfeeding,
sleep and parenting.
http://analyticalarmadillo.blogspot.com
Analytical Armadillo
Blog discussing in detail current issues affecting breastfeeding mums

Page 5

Things NOT to say to a breastfeeding mother

On Breastfeeding Q&A recently weve had some discussion recently about things not to say to a
breastfeeding mother. Here are some corkers Ive heard over the years, along with some suggestions
for more helpful things to consider.

DONT SAY
-

Hes such a big baby he must need formula.

Hes so tiny he must need formula.
I used formula, and my baby turned out fine.
Are you sure your milk is good enough?
If shes old enough to ask for it, its time to stop.
Formula is just as good nowadays.
She needs to eat already?
Breastfeed in public? Someone might see you!
Are you sure shes getting enough?
Youre still breastfeeding?
She doesnt really need to feed at night.
One bottle wont hurt
Hes just using you as a pacifier.
You cant eat that if youre breastfeeding.

TRY SAYING
-

Youre doing a great job.

Ill bring round dinner so you can feed your baby.
Breastfeeding is so good for your baby!
It can be hard at first, eh, but its so worth it.
Hows it going?
I can call an IBCLC for you if you need extra help.
I found this book really helpful. Here have a borrow!
Look how much shes growing on your milk!
Let me get you a glass of water.
Want to borrow some DVDs for those evening nursing
sessions?
- It might take a while, but youll get there!
- I didnt breastfeed, but I know its really important to you.
How can I help?
- Isnt it great breastfeeding a toddler instant calming!

Breastfeeding is the biological norm for mothers and babies.

It is a relationship that provides stress-reducing hormones to the mother as well as
stimulation, connection, and protection from illness to the baby.
It even feeds the baby."
Alice Martino Roddy, La Leche League Leader, Linden, Virginia, USA

Page 6

Member Profile: Sandra Abdulla

Occupation:
HR Manager
Children:
Shamsa 4yo,
and Mariam 16 mo
Member of BFQA:
for 3 yrs
What you knew about breastfeeding before
giving birth:
Ha nothing! I thought it would be as simple
as ABC, so why bother to research?
What you have learned about
breastfeeding:
I have learned lots of things, but the most
magical is the bond between mother and
child.
Favourite breastfeeding moment:
When my big boobs actually came in handy
and I was able to breastfeed through the
NICU incubator holes even though I couldnt
take my baby out to hold her.

Biggest breastfeeding challenge:

When I had mastitis with my first child. I was ready
to give up, but I sought help and found a lactation
consultant who coached me through it.
Favourite breastfeeding resources:
I am a huge fan of Dr Jack Newman and Dr Thomas
Hale.
What every mother should know about
breastfeeding:
The no 1 piece of advice I got was trust your body
it will always make enough milk.
Why you decided to train as a Mother Supporter
with the Association of
Breastfeeding Mothers:
To help mums succeed at breastfeeding. I think its
important that all mums have someone to guide
them, and provide correct information and help.
What you would say to another mum considering
training:
Do it! Its so important for new mums to have
Mother Supporters. You cant have a chat and a
cuppa with Google

Mo t he r S up p o r te r T ra i ni ng i s o ffe re d vi a d i s ta nc e l ea r ni ng b y the
A s s o c i ati o n o f Br e as tfe ed i ng M o th er s . Tr ai ne es m us t b e m e mb er s
o f t he A BM. F o r m o re i nfo r ma ti o n , se e ht tp ://a bm .me .uk /ab o ut th e-a bm /tr a i ni ng-w i th -th e-a ss o c i a ti o n-o f-b r ea s tfe ed i ng-m o the r s/ .