Encourage Breastfeeding As It Benefits Both Mother And Baby - Expert

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19 (Bernama) -- Mothers are advised to breastfeed their babies as this can benefit both, said Sunway Medical Centre (SMC) Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Fetal Medicine consultant Dr Vicky Ho Miaw Ping.

She said studies have shown that breast milk, especially colostrum, is rich in important minerals, proteins, vitamins and antibodies to support the baby's immune system.

She said it also promotes growth and improves the baby’s digestive function, besides colostrum is the first form of milk produced during pregnancy and immediately after giving birth.

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"Skin-to-skin contact during breastfeeding can help stabilise the babies' body temperature and calms them, thus making them feel safe. Meanwhile, the benefits of breastfeeding can be enjoyed by mothers from the very beginning of the baby's birth,” she said in a statement today. 

"Oxytocin, which is a type of hormone that can stimulate uterine contractions, thus avoiding the risk of postpartum haemorrhage, will be produced when the baby is breastfed, and breastfeeding can also reduce the risk of mothers suffering from breast and ovarian cancer in their lifetime and helps achieve optimal weight after delivery," she said in a statement today.

Dr Ho said that for the initial preparation of breastfeeding, the body can start from the prenatal stage, which is when the pregnancy is 37 weeks old, and expectant mothers are advised to attend antenatal classes to get valuable information from gynaecologists and lactation experts to prepare themselves for the birth of their child.

"Additionally, mothers-to-be can also perform a gentle massage on the breasts to stimulate the mammary glands to promote milk production. After giving birth to a baby, adequate water intake is essential to avoid dehydration which may reduce milk production.

"Hydration can also prevent mothers from getting thrombosis, which is a blood clot problem, and ensure that mothers can breastfeed their babies safely," she said, adding that mothers also need to practice a balanced and nutritious diet, including the intake of necessary nutrients such as calcium and iron that are reduced during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

She also said that adequate rest and the management of physical, emotional and mental stress also play an important role in the continuation of breastfeeding.

Touching on the challenges of breastfeeding, Dr Ho said among them are psychological and emotional factors such as trauma from the experience of childbirth while physical factors are due to the discomfort of childbirth wounds, cracked nipples, wounds around the areola, blocked glands and mastitis which often happen to breastfeeding mothers especially due to improper breastfeeding technique.

She also advises mothers who experience pain or discomfort in the breast, nipple, neck or back while breastfeeding to place the baby in the correct position such as cradle hold, cross-cradle hold, football hold or relaxed side position (lying on the side).

Although breastfeeding is strongly encouraged, Dr Ho said that not all mothers can do so, taking into account the specific circumstances of a mother, for example having undergone mastectomy surgery due to breast cancer.

"Alternatively, breastfeeding can still be done if you still have one healthy breast," she said, adding that breastfeeding is also not recommended if you are infected with HIV and tuberculosis or are taking certain drugs such as psychotropics, antimetabolites or chemotherapy.

In addition, she said some babies may also not be suitable to be breastfed effectively such as if they have problems such as cleft lip and palate, short tongue or were born prematurely before 34 weeks.

"Mothers of babies with metabolic problems or situations that require them to be admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) also need to seek the advice of a paediatrician first before the baby is breastfed," she added,

SMC, which is the largest private quaternary hospital in the country, has been listed in the top 250 hospitals in the Newsweek World's Best Hospitals 2024 ranking and tops the paediatric field in Malaysia in the Newsweek Asia Pacific Best Hospitals 2024 ranking.

-- BERNAMA