Setting a record... and then what?

Come 8 August 2007, breastfeeding mothers all over the world will be doing their bit to raise some awareness on breastfeeding. In Singapore, the BMSG is organising a mass breastfeeding event. Mothers are called to come nurse their nurslings in unity at the magic time of 10am Singapore time. This synchronises with other groups all over the world who are also breastfeeding then. The group hopes to set a national record to have the largest number of mothers breastfeeding simultaneously. So come one, come all, bring your nurslings and your breasts and together, we will sit and nurse. I'm not quite sure how they will do this - on the count of three? Okay I am being facetious.

Don't get me wrong. I have nothing against this. I support all efforts to raise breastfeeding awareness. Somewhere out there, I'm sure there will be mothers who will benefit from this.

Somehow.

And that, I guess, is my beef with this. So let me grouse - after all, this is my blog! WBW comes but once a year. What has quietly slumbered for 51 weeks suddenly roars to life as the media machinery (provided no other hot stories) scrambles. Photogs take pictures, journalists coax interesting soundbites as mothers smile, babies nurse (whats with the hullabaloo?) . The breast of course, never makes it to Page 1. All breasts, who are the stars of the show, ironically remain coyly under wraps. This IS Singapore after all... God forbid that a breastfeeding mother show more booby flesh than the cover of IHM!

But I digress. Again, not my beef. If the media goes to town with breastfeeding, and that results in one more mother, one more father and one more mother-in-law out there gaining respect and support for breastfeeding then I say - more power to the media!

But then, what happens the other 51 weeks of the year? What happens when the national record is set? So we get 1178 mothers nursing simultaneously in Singapore. Then what? What does it prove? What does it change? What practical help does this record offer?

We still get the same old rubbishy myths on breastfeeding being circulated eg breastmilk loses nutritional value after one year! There will still be mothers inundated with formula ads that tell half-truths or even plain untruths. There will still be employers who sniff at nursing breaks, who baulk at setting nursing rooms. Most of Singapore's hospitals will still remain un-Babyfriendly. We will still have a cord blood bank but sadly, not a milk bank. Formula manufacturers still gleefully test the thin line boundaries of the SIFECs Code.

And if this sounds gloomy and depressing, then wait a bit. We're really not half bad already.

In Singapore, I think the level of awareness for breastfeeding is higher than it has ever been. Our breastfeeding initiation rates are well into the 90+ percentile. Today in Singapore, we also have more support networks in place and more trained IBCLCs here to help. More mothers start out after birth knowing that breastmilk is the 'gold standard' (I actually disagree with this definition but that's another issue!) and they are motivated to at least 'try' to breastfeed. (Though a good friend I know always quotes Yoda when it comes to the word 'try'. The little guy gets it spot on!)

This places us in a far more fortunate position than many less affluent countries whose mothers are often more susceptible to the 'wonder claims' of formula manufacturers - not uncommonly sometimes with tragic results - especially if sanitation/hygiene etc is not well-established in the country. For us in Singapore, the decision not to breastfeed is not likely to end in tragedy - illness/death. But for fellow mothers elsewhere in poorer countries, this risk is, sadly, very real.

The scenario that played out 20, 30 years ago when the Nestle boycott first swung into action is still very much real. In countries where the WHO Code is not strictly enforced, manufacturers have a field day. Mothers go home with formula packs and are told that the product is 'superior' and can help the child do better in school, the child goes on formula, mother loses supply, poor sanitation comes into the picture, formula is made with contaminated water or wrongly made, or skimped on because the parents eventually can't afford it, then the child falls ill or sometimes dies. This is real.

Why am I saying all this? Because I have yet to make the final, logical link between 1178 mothers simultaneously breastfeeding and that baby dying in some third-world country! How, I wonder, does the national record, help them? And if we don't even think that is relevent, and we don't want to look that far, look closer to home. How does that national record help the factory worker mother here breastfeed her baby for longer than the 2 or 3 months maternity leave (if they even take maternity leave!)? How does that national record work towards persuading doctors, hospitals and the medical establishment to set up a milk bank? How will that persuade hospitals to shape up enough to become Baby-Friendly as under the BFHI set by UNICEF? (I know one hospital here is already working towards this - but others? I think every hospital that is involved with mothers and birthing should be certified BFHI but that again, is a different issue.)

Beyond just solidarity/making records on that one day in a year, I hope we can do more.

Looking beyond Singapore, is there a way that mothers here can show solidarity and support for other mothers elsewhere struggling to breastfeed/or help fly the breastfeeding flag in places where support is needed? Can part of the proceeds from this event go towards any effort to help fund/promote breastfeeding in parts of the world that may need help? Eg Filipino mothers in the Philippines from the recent press reports, are facing a lot of commercial pressure from formula firms. I'm not sure what can be done. But its worth thinking about.

I am all for establishing solidarity and support among breastfeeding moms. And I acknowledge that Singapore's level of breastfeeding awareness today certainly did not grow overnight if we did not have the solidarity created with the help/support of organisations like BMSG, LLL and other committed and dedicated health professionals who pushed for LC certification, training and recognition. Even informal e-groups like Asiaparents have been so instrumental in getting the breastfeeding message across.

So let’s make the records and keep breaking them annually as more mothers breastfeed together. I hope the organisers will think a bit harder about enlarging the picture. This need not just be a once-a-year tea-and-breastfeeding happy get-together for nursing moms. I think it can be a lot more focused and meaningful. We need to get the lactivist spirit going in our moms. For example, I'm all for charging for the event - when mothers know that the funds will be channelled to a good cause, I don't think charging will be a deterrent to participation. And kept to a central location, with a family-friendly restaurant/establishment supporting the cause by sponsoring drinks/meals, might help send secondary messages - eg "my baby eats where I eat" or something like that to show that nursing mothers need not hide in nursing rooms. And as for the funds? Show how the money will be used - perhaps setting up a fund to "Sponsor an LC for 6 months in the Philippines" programme? Or set a "Breast-friendly" certification for local eateries.

Innovative thrusts like this - to nurse simultaneously to create awareness/raise support etc - are good, but let’s not stop there. Otherwise, it runs the danger of just being gimmicky and loses credibility. To me, breastfeeding has to be meaningful year-round - and not just to set a record for WBW once a year.

And since this is my blog, I know what people will say: Well, easy for you to say! Walk the talk then! Join the BMSG and do something! etc etc... I know, I know... That's why its on my blog and not on Asiaparents - haha! It's so easy to be an armchair critic eh? But with two babes at my breasts (literally) and a new business to think about, my arms are quite full for now. Maybe when they wean eh?? Hah! According to Mr Owain, this is not likely in the near future!