Breastfeeding in Australia Society in the 21st Century - Term Paper Example

BREAST FEEDING IN AUSTRALIA “Babies feed every few hours. It is not reasonable, healthy or legal to demand that mothers hide- away every time they need to give their children sustenance” Introduction A recent media report by Tara Moss claimed that ”babies feed every few hours and that it is not reasonable, healthy or legal to demand that mothers hide-away every time they need to give their children sustenance” (June 05 2012). This academic paper will discuss this statement in the context of Australian society in the 21st century and look at other factors that may influence the ability of women to breastfeed their babies longer. Centuries ago, breast feeding was the major source of nutrition for babies for an exclusive period before they were weaned to other foods. The gap between exclusive breast feeding and weaning is reducing with mothers giving their children supplement milk products. Finding a mother breastfeeding in public was not frowned upon. However, the situation has changed and mothers in this era rarely breastfeed and if they do, it is while hiding (Cowie, 2011). Despite knowledge of the many benefits of breast feeding, its duration and exclusivity rates in Australia still fall short of the guidelines provided by World Health Organization (WHO). Literature has not shied away from highlighting the importance of breastfeeding to the health of an infant and their mother (Public Health Association of Australia, 2010; Australian Government, 2008; WHO, 2010). WHO (2010) has made the recommendation that infants should be breastfed exclusively to their sixth month and to, with the inclusion of appropriate foods, continue until they are at least two years of age. There are long and short term benefits associated with breastfeeding. According to WHO (2010), both developed and developing countries are challenges in meeting the guidelines of WHO (Crepinsek, 2010). Between 20 to 50 percent of infants in Australia get exclusive breastfeeding to till they are six months old (Crepinsek, 2010). In order to understand the Australian context of breastfeeding, it is important to shed light on how the trends have been changing over the years. There are several elements in life that have resulted in changing breastfeeding trends in Australia since the 1900s. These areas of change include increased medical interventions in breastfeeding and childbirth and the increased involvement of healthcare professionals and doctors in breastfeeding and treatment of childbirth. Numerous improvements that have taken place in healthcare have resulted in the reduction of mother and infant mortality (Crepinsek, 2010). However, commercial formulas and modified cow’s milk have also resulted in a reduction of the number of women who chose to breastfeed their babies (Australian Government, 2008). Consequently, seeing a woman breastfeed their child has become a rare phenomenon and public occurrences of breastfeeding have come to elicit shock to observers. The effect of commercial milk endorsed by healthcare professionals is twofold (Crepinsek, 2010). On the one hand, it has reduced the mortality rate of children who were previously fed goat’s or cow’s milk. On the other hand, it has negatively impacted breastfeeding rates in Australia (Berry & Gribble, 2006). The 1970s saw Australia top the charts of developed countries that have shown initiation in breastfeeding. At the time, these high rates were achieved by only 40 to 45 percent of the women breastfeeding (Berry & Gribble, 2006). This triggered the development of commercial milk. Breastfeeding women have been seeking support and knowledge from other mothers who breastfeed. Some of the groups that have been formed to help to this end include the Australian Breastfeeding Association. Current breastfeeding practices in Australia Decline in breastfeeding rates have raised concerns in the healthcare sector. UNICEF and WHO have endeavored to initiate programs that would promote breastfeeding. Among these initiatives was the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI). BFHI is an international initiative that aims to an environment which will give an infant the best start in life. One of the ways that BFHI is encouraging breastfeeding is through educating mothers who have the intent of breastfeeding and healthcare professionals so that they can be better equipped at managing breastfeeding. BFHI means to transform policies in healthcare and restore the practice of breastfeeding as a normal and natural practice in the processes involved in nurturing infants. There is a higher rate of initiation of excusive breastfeeding but few get to the sixth month recommended. About 87% of babies are breastfed when discharged from hospital but only 23% are exclusively breastfed o their sixth month (Berry & Gribble, 2006). This finding underlines the fact that there needs to be an exploration into the aspects that affect breastfeeding decisions made by women (Sachs, 2005,). The number of infants being breastfed is steadily declining. The current situation of breastfeeding is also affecting women who wish to exclusively breastfeed (Heinig, 2009). Different issues affect their decisions on whether or not to breastfeed including the difficulty of breastfeeding in public. Infants need to be fed every few hours. Currently, this is only possible if a woman stays at home with their baby. Issues that affect decisions to breastfeed The issues that affect decisions to breastfeed range from biomedical issues, socio demographic, psychosocial and support issues (Bridges, 2010). Improving the duration and initiation rates does not only benefit infants and mothers but also has economical and environmental benefits for families and the healthcare system. Common issues that occur when initiating breastfeeding such as poor positioning and attachment of the infant as well as inadequate breast emptying inhibit the establishment as well as maintenance of breastfeeding. These issues may lead to the development of complications such as mastitis, damaged nipples and breast engorgement (Cricco-Lizza, 2007). These issues contribute to hindering breastfeeding duration and exclusivity. Non modifiable factors such as marital status, education level and maternal age can be possible predictors of the duration and exclusivity of breastfeeding. Research has revealed that women who are married and who have higher socio economic status as well as education levels breastfeed for a longer time than their counterparts (Dyson et al, 2006). These factors are harder to modify and little can be done to improve the duration and exclusivity of breastfeeding from this perspective. Thus, the best possible option is to identify modifiable variables that can be alternatively development and evaluated in order to come up with interventions that can encourage women to initiate and maintain breastfeeding (Dyson et al, 2006; Sachs, 2005; Cricco-Lizza, 2007). Among the modifiable variables is maternal perception of milk being sufficient. It is this perception that results in a mother using commercial milk products as a supplement. Increased maternal age also predicts the increase of breastfeeding. Studies have reported that mothers over the age of 25 are likely to continue breastfeeding their babies for up to a year (Cricco-Lizza, 2007). The Australian National Health Survey found that mothers over the age of 30 are likely to breastfeed up to 12 years as opposed to those between the ages of 18 to 29. Age affects the duration of breastfeeding but not the initiation. Married women and those in a defacto relationship have higher rates of initiation than their counterparts. A supportive relationship is conducive to breastfeeding while isolation often leads to the decision not to breastfeed. In addition, maternal education is likely to result in higher breastfeeding rates. Work also affects the decision to breastfeed as most women find that the decision to go back to work and keep breast feeding is a challenging one (Gatrell, 2007). This affects both duration and exclusivity of breastfeeding. Women working in conditions that are less favorable breastfeed exclusively for a shorter time. On the other hand those in professional and managerial occupations engage in longer exclusive breastfeeding. In addition, women with previous positive breastfeeding experiences are more likely to breastfeed exclusively for up to six months. Negative experiences are associated with lower duration and initiation rates. Maternal attitude can be changed or reinforced to affect decisions. Women with confidence in their ability to breastfeed do it for longer. The environment or context of breastfeeding should be so that women are comfortable when doing it even in public. Consequently issues such as location and work will not affect exclusivity (Gatrell, 2007). When women are in locations where they feel uncomfortable breastfeeding, they may resort to using supplements even if they meant to breastfeed to the sixth month. Promotion of breastfeeding Western governments have recently embarked on projects that will encourage breast feeding among mothers. Consequently, asking that a mother should hide away when breastfeeding is not right on political, ethical, social or legal grounds. The main guideline for government programs is the WHO exclusive feeding for six months. Advocates for breastfeeding have been calling on governments to increase the support they give to mothers. The government mostly supports this through increasing funding of breastfeeding groups and educating healthcare personnel (Australian Government, p. 2008). Breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months and following up for the next two years can only be made possible if public breastfeeding is not frowned upon. Benefits for families An increasing number of women are getting pregnant while actively employed. While most would prefer that they d not breastfeed because of time constraints, replacements made for breast milk are expensive. In most countries, buying these replacements takes up 25% of the daily wages of individuals. The money saved by mothers when they decide to breast feed can go to other family needs such as food for the older children (House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health and Ageing, 2007). Optimal breastfeeding results in the reduction of fertility contributing to the spacing of pregnancies. This ensures good health for a mother and her children. In addition, babies who are breastfed have a lower risk of being sick (AAPSB et al, 2005). Treatment often costs a lot and this money can be saved and spent on other issues. Benefits for Employers For employers who have their employees covered by healthcare, there will be benefits because of lower costs when babies are optimally breastfed. Cases of hospitalization, doctor visits and medications will be lowered because the child has better protection from sickness from the breast milk (Brighouse, 2009). In addition, if a woman is aware that her employee supports breastfeeding, they will come back from maternity leave faster than others and this will reduce the cost of replacement and re-training of other employees. This type of support given by the employer also gives the woman a reason to remain loyal to their employer. Benefit to the society Milk from human beings is a natural resource with uniqueness. It is the best food for babies as it results in their good health and brain power. The only way that one can access this resource is through breast feeding. If the society chooses not to support women in their endeavor to breastfeed, then the valuable of breast milk is lost (Bridges, 2007). The replacement of human milk is not only risky but also economically unsustainable, inefficient and expensive. Although the economic disadvantage is not as severed in developed countries, every country has poor people who will be unable to afford human milk replacements (WABA, 2008). The healthcare system will also spend more when treating illnesses associated with babies not taking breast milk and with babies taking human milk replacements. If children lose their potential to learn, the society is affected as a whole. Breastfeeding also has benefits that are key to child care. A nurturing and close relationship is cultivated between a mother and baby (Allen & Hector, 2005). There are also additional benefits for the mother. Lactation hormones help in improving the health of mothers by lowering anaemia rates, lessening the chances of developing certain cancers and osteoporosis (Allen & Hector, 2005). In addition, family planning will be enhanced especially if the family cannot afford other means family planning (Smithers & McIntyre, 2010). Although the population of breastfeeding individuals is low at a particular time, the benefit of supporting and promoting them is good for everyone in the society. Breastfeeding and child bearing are unique and important roles in the society that only women can carry out. As each generation goes through breastfeeding, they then become a foundation of healthy individuals in the future (Allen & Hector, 2005). Consequently, women need to be protected against discrimination because of the obstacles they meet at work and in other public areas when they breastfeed. Breastfeeding in public Breast feeding is a necessity and women should not alter their breastfeeding schedules to make others comfortable. Instead, laws should be modified to ensure mothers can breastfeed comfortably in public (Balint, 2009). It is a common practice for people to contact the Australian Breastfeeding Association if they want to find out whether they have a right to breastfeed their babies in public areas. Most of them do not know that the right to breastfeed in public is enshrined in the Australian law. The law says that women can breastfeed their babies in public places without being subjected to discrimination (Breastfeeding In Public, 2012). Therefore, breastfeeding in shops, at work and in public transport is permitted. It is therefore not legally sound to ask a mother to hide when breastfeeding their child. In Victoria, it is illegal to discriminate against a breastfeeding woman. Some of the areas covered include clubs, accommodation sports areas, goods and services and educational areas. UNICEF has embedded in its Article 24 that breastfeeding is essential for the child’s right and assures that the baby attains the highest possible health standard. Consequently, governments are obligated to ensure that the environment provide by their country is there to encourage the empowerment of women to breastfeed. The same enabling environment should be assured in the work place as well. Many nations have made efforts to increase breastfeeding rates so that the number of deaths of children under the age of five can be reduced. There are several protections for women breastfeeding while at work (Gatrell, 2007). One of them is maternity protection which supports women so that they can be more productive. This protection addresses the needs that women have and their children too. It makes it possible for the women to keep being productive at work even in their child bearing ears. Women at work can also be afforded a breastfeeding break which is a period during the day when a woman is allowed to express her milk or breastfeed her child. These breaks are paid time and the mother is not penalized for the time she spends doing so (WABA, 2008). These breaks are needed because they help the mother keep her milk supply good. When the baby needs milk throughout the day, then the mother’s body will respond by producing more milk and when the baby starts to space out feeding, the mother will produce less milk. Asking a mother to keep her milk; even when her baby needs it all through the day is unreasonable. Breastfeeding breaks are most important in the period of exclusive breast feeding to ensure the baby is well fed. A mother should be allowed breastfeeding breaks in the first six months of her baby’s life. The place of breastfeeding in nutrition Breastfeeding is an obvious nutritional issue. Breast milk is food and it sustains human life. In addition, it compares most favorably with foods that have been designed to replace it (Morrow & Barraclough, 2011). Consequently, asking a mother to hide away when feeding their child is not healthy for her or her baby. In case there is no place to hide, then, feeding will occur at a different time. If the situation was so with a six year old child and their mother did not give them food for fear of being in public, then legal action would be taken against the mother on grounds of neglect. Although healthcare officials have made efforts to show that breast milk is an important part of nutritional concerns, there is still reluctance on the part of the public (Morrow & Barraclough, 2011). Most people do not consider breast milk as a major part of nutrition, this trend has increased exponentially since the popularity of supplements and other milk products were designed to take the place of breast milk. The main difficulty in using nutrition as a point of promoting breast milk is due to various factors. One is that the conceptual placement of breast milk on the diet pyramid or within the food groups is difficult. It is also different from other issues such as consuming less fat in the diet. This qualitative difference is not usually mentioned in dietary guidelines. Women who make the choice to breastfeed always give nutritional values as the main reason for making this choice. On the other hand, those who choose not to justify their decision using non nutritional perspectives such as the convenience of using a bottle. Breastfeeding is not favored amongst most individuals owing to the fact that the issues that surround it are not often debated in the public sphere by healthcare officials (Sachs, 2005). Conclusion Tara Moss’ assertion that mothers shouldn’t be forced to hide away when breastfeeding is accurate. However, it is important to highlight that there are many contributing factors that have resulted in this situation including personal preferences, work constraints, education and health issues. Moss’ statement is a wakeup call for the government, workplaces and other individuals to make mothers comfortable. A mother who is breastfeeding spends energy and time providing for her family in terms of care and food. This investment into the family is important and rewarding but it is also stress inducing. In cases where there are high stress levels, the mother has harder time expressing milk (Stewart-Glenn, 2008). Support for a breastfeeding mother is good not just for the emotional well being of the mother but also for her physical well being. Supportive environments ensure that a mother has a good experience with breastfeeding thus, increasing the chances of repeating the experience. All people in the society benefit when a baby s breast fed because they were also babies once therefore, the entire society should support breastfeeding mothers. References Allen, J., & Hector, D. (2005). Benefits of breastfeeding. NSW Public Health Bulletin. 16(3-4), 42-46. American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Breastfeeding (AAPSB), et al. (2005). Breastfeeding and the use of human milk. Pediatrics, 115(2), 496-50. Australian Government. (2008). Australian Government Response to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health and Aging Report on the Inquiry into the Health Benefits of Breastfeeding “The Best Start”. Canberra. 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