Sarah Carabott
Breastfeeding seeps into Maltese culture
Breastfeeding is the natural food that has been around as long as humans.
Malta is becoming more of a breastfeeding-friendly culture, according to Paediatrics Department chairman Simon Attard Montalto.
At the turn of this century, breastfeeding here ranked low compared with countries worldwide, but more than 10 years on it has practically doubled. Nearly 70 per cent of newborns are now breastfed when discharged from hospital.
The most worrying factor remained the advice provided to new parents, Prof. Attard Montalto said at a seminar about the subject on Saturday which was well attended by mothers and fathers.
A study published in 2008 showed that, of a sample of 403 women who opted to breastfeed, only 38 per cent were still breastfeeding at six months. Around 200 of them had stopped because they had received wrong advice from the medical and social community. Had they been given the right advice, 93 per cent of the whole group would have continued breastfeeding.
The advantages outweighed the disadvantages, Prof. Attard Montalto said. Complications and ontraindications were rare and vitamin deficiencies could be countered with supplements.
“Breastfeeding milk is the longest scientific experiment to this day. It is the natural food that has been around as long as humans,” he said, adding it had a good head start on any other form of nutrition for babies.
“It is sometimes as perfect as it could get, automatically adjusting regardless of the mother’s health,” he added, recalling images of physically weak mothers, from Third World countries, feeding healthy-looking babies.
The more one breastfeeds, the more protected the offspring. Breastfed infants have a smaller risk of gastrointestinal and respiratory infections.
Mothers also tend to gain. They lose weight quicker and are less likely to become obese later. It also reduces the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer.
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Stanley Colombo
Nov 22nd 2011, 16:17
The cases are very varied. I'm sure that if you were urged to keep trying it's because it was best. It's not true that non breast-feeding mothers are made to feel guilty - it's just that many mothers do not realize what they are foregoing when they switch to formula.
Many are under the impression that breast-milk is not 'filling'. It is not true. It's just that it gets assimilated quicker. When our daughter was waking every three hours to be fed even at 2 months (she breastfed for 2 years - thanks to my wife's unsurmountable perseverance and determination) I persuaded my wife to try supplementing with formula during the night - when I could wake up and feed her to ensure my wife would at least get a few hours uninterrupted sleep. I bought one of the best brands, and she still woke every three hours. I then bought another formula 'for hungry babies' which had a lower Glycaemic Index (gets assimilated slower) due to a higher protein content. She still woke every three hours, only drinking 200ml instead of 240ml compared to the other formula! Bottom line is for us it did not make a difference whether my wife breastfed or tried supplementing with formula. It's so perfect that even faeces have no smell at all. It's like there really is nothing to 'throw away' with breast milk - what the baby excretes is just enough to keep the colon healthy.
Ms C Schembri
Nov 22nd 2011, 12:19
I went to the seminar as well and learned alot. Was so enthusiastic that i spoke about all the pros with my friends, who unfortunately were very fast to contradict what i was telling them by their so called "breastfeeding experience". Its a pity!
D Camilleri
Nov 22nd 2011, 10:51
Whilst i acknowledge the advantages of breastfeeding, i had a negative experience with my newborn since she wasn't feeding enough and the breastfeeding professionals kept telling me to continue trying... after 3 weeks my baby was still underweight, and that's when i switched to bottle feeding. i cannot understand why in malta the health professionals are so blinded by the breastfeeding issue that they make you feel guilty when you switch to bottle feeding. in my case, i don't want to think what would have happened if i heeded their advice and continued trying breastfeeding!!
A Anderson
Nov 22nd 2011, 14:46
agree .. but it is not just in Malta 'that health professionals are blinded by the breastfeeding issue' - UK same. I think it is not right to promote either way as the perfect way - and make whoever can't breastfeed for a good reason feel extremely guilty (the mother is already experiencing a lot - and guilt feeling is something she could do without in the beginning - she needs support that's all). Let's face it, breastfeeding is not easy and health professionals need to be down to earth and support the mother whatever she decides and depending on the particular situation. One needs to show both the ups and the downs of breastfeeding. Thus not just promoting the pros (which I agree it is a lot) however if a mum is continually anxious becuase it is not happening the way it should and still keep trying it may affect the babies (as both mum and baby become frustrated). Let's admit that breastfeeding mothers need a lot of support - especially in the beginning - it is not just a question of telling them to do it: it is a question of having people there with you helping you practically.
Patrizia Salerno
Nov 22nd 2011, 10:15
I went to the seminar last Saturday and it was really interesting. well done to the ParentCraft Services who organized it