News

I refer to the Opinion piece “ ” (Aug 1). Breastfeeding is no walk in the park, and the struggles may lead to postnatal depression. While there are some measures in place to support breastfeeding mothers, more can be done. First, while mothers facing breastfeeding challenges after being discharged can visit a lactation consultant at maternity hospitals and polyclinics, some mothers may not be in a state to leave their home. The cost of engaging a private lactation consultant to make home visits may also be prohibitive. Besides lactation consultants, masseuses who specialise in postnatal massage provide valuable support by potentially helping with increasing a mother’s milk supply and reducing any clogs.  One suggestion is, therefore, as part of the Government’s support for new mothers, for each new mother to enjoy, say, three free home visits from a lactation consultant and/or a masseuse. The initial weeks of breastfeeding are crucial and, hopefully, with the right support, mothers can continue with their breastfeeding journey. Second, while there is an Employer’s Guide to Breastfeeding at the Workplace, I wonder how many employers are aware of the guidelines, and if so, how many implement them. I suggest that if a mother indicates that she is interested in breastfeeding upon returning to work, the relevant government agency can send the guidelines to the employer and follow up to check if the guidelines have been implemented. If the employer cannot do so, it would be helpful to find out the underlying reasons so that these may be addressed.  Third, many shopping centres have dedicated breastfeeding rooms. Members of the public should not abuse these rooms by using the facilities when they do not need them. Fourth, caregivers for breastfeeding mothers can be more empathetic. Statements such as “The baby is so hungry because you have so little milk” or “Feeding formula milk will let the baby sleep better” can be discouraging, and thwart the mother’s breastfeeding efforts. Ultimately, it is the mother’s decision whether or not to breastfeed, and her mental health is paramount. Regardless of the mother’s choice, we can do more as a society to provide a suitable environment for a mother to breastfeed, but at the same time, not judge if a mother decides not to do so.  L