In an ideal world, the value of breastfeeding would go uncontested, and mothers would be supported to do it in all places and spaces. But unfortunately this is not the case. Even in the UK, a country which is so progressive in other health areas, breastfeeding mothers do not receive the support they need to naturally feed their babies and cuts to support services are still being made.
Elsewhere in the world, things are very different, however. As this year’s World Breastfeeding Week focuses on empowering and enabling breastfeeding, here are some of the ways that countries have invested in public health, changed the culture of their society and increased breastfeeding rates.
1. Sweden’s maternity leave policies
Want more women to breastfeed? Protect their time to do so. Women in Sweden can take up to 15 months maternity leave at 80% pay. This means that they can breastfeed and take care of their babies well beyond the period exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for (six months) without having to worry to about how to pay their bills and keep a roof over their family’s heads.
By comparison, women in the UK are entitled to just six weeks’ leave at 90% pay before it falls to £148 (R 2714) a week - unless they have additional occupational pay.
2. Kenya’s workplace support
Kenya identified that exclusive breastfeeding rates were falling partly because women were returning to work. So it created the breastfeeding mothers bill that supported breastfeeding in the workplace.
This bill requires all workplaces to offer paid breaks and a private comfortable place with a lockable door. They must also provide a fridge to store milk, a power socket, a sink, and a table and chair. If employers don’t do this they can be fined or even imprisoned.
Read more: Lessons from Kenya on how to boost breastfeeding rates
3. Bangladesh’s ban on formula marketing
The international code of marketing of breast milk substitutes was developed in the 1980s to protect families from unscrupulous marketing of formula milk. It does not limit formula milk – which can be vital for those mothers who are unable to breastfeed – but prevents the industry from trying to push their products. Research has shown that promotion of formula milk reduces breastfeeding rates so while the products are still available, in those countries following the code they are not allowed to be promoted in any form.
4. Croatia’s 100% adoption of baby-friendly hospitals
Research has shown that babies born in baby-friendly hospitals – an initiative set up by Unicef and the World Health Organization in 1991 – are more likely to be breastfed. To help protect breastfeeding, hospitals that have gained this accreditation follow 10 steps such as staff training, support after birth, keeping mum and baby together, and continued support in the community after discharge.
In Croatia, things weren’t always perfect – manufacturers had managed to get formula promotion into hospital bags meaning that no hospital met the criteria. But things have been turned around, and now all facilities in the country are accredited as baby friendly, and the steps are integrated into national policies, strategies and plans.
5. Brazil’s human milk banks
Donor human milk banks are lifesaving for premature babies who cannot receive their own mother’s milk, particularly just after birth. According to Unicef, delaying breastfeeding by between two and 23 hours after birth increases a baby’s risk of dying in its first month by 40%. If breastfeeding is delayed by 24 hours or more, this risk increases to 80%.
6. Scotland’s integrated feeding teams
Recognising the importance of supporting breastfeeding, Scotland has recently achieved 100% baby-friendly accreditation for its maternity and community services. The country has also invested £2 million (on top of the existing £2.3m funding) into breastfeeding support, and £300 000 into donor human milk banks.
With so many countries seeing the value in breastfeeding support, it’s about time all women were genuinely empowered and enabled to breastfeed too.