The World Breastfeeding Week came to my notice last year when I was in my village, Jhumlawang, Rukum. At that time, I was in the early stage of pregnancy. Since my village lacks modern technologies, it made me stick to the radio and its FM stations. All the FM channels were full of the World Breastfeeding Week fundas. I listened to each program every day, even though the programs were basically repeating the same thing. I didn't want to miss anything; in case they air new info. The programs were informative and useful to clarify myths regarding breastfeeding, especially for my situation at that time.Whenever there is anything about breastfeeding, I recall an interesting moment from my school days. There used to be a TV-ad in Nepal Television in which the famous Nepali actress Karishma Manandhar was featured. The advertisement basically showed the actress breastfeeding her daughter and says it was good for her daughter's health. I always found this advertisement embarrassing and useless. Embarrassing, may be because of my age at that time and useless because, I understood breastfeeding as a universal truth. What would you feed a baby, if not mother's milk? For my young mind it was as simple as 'Sun rises in the east.' Thus, I never understood why it was so important to broadcast in a national television. Then last December I became mother. And, I could not succeed to breastfeed my daughter. Huh? Yes, my daughter is a bottle-fed baby.
Till date I had never thought that I would be depending on formula for my baby. During my pregnancy I was clear that there is no other option than breastfeeding for my upcoming baby. My decision became stronger after listening to all those programs on the occasion of World Breastfeeding Week last year. I was hesitant to join any work for the reason that it will shorten my baby's breastfeeding days. Secretly, I was feeling proud of myself, for my determination to breastfeed. Also, while reading Pregnancy Guide Books, I always skipped the chapter of bottle-feeding. And I was really happy to find nursing bras in Bhat Bhateni Supermarket as I did not expect it to find them in Nepali market. I bought it and packed in my maternity baggage before leaving for hospital. Despite all these positive thoughts and actions and with all my conscience, I failed to breastfeed.
Breastfeeding turned out to be a nightmare. I applied all the suggestions from the doctors, nurses, my mom, my sisters and friends but it didn't help. During my seven days stay in the hospital, the on-duty nurses tried helping me but they ended up with the formula. However, with my strong determination, I kept on struggling with my baby to make her suck from the breast. We did not feed her from the bottle as per the doctor's advice, instead we used spoon for feeding the formula milk. But nothing helped. After five weeks of everyday battle with my daughter I gave up and moved to full-fledged formula feeding.
So, the World Breastfeeding Week is back. I am again reading the same thing. And I strongly feel that these information and these supports (that they claim to have) are incomplete. After my failed attempt for breastfeeding, I can tell the Breastfeeding 'propaganda' is troublesome. I also don't understand who is the target of this World Breastfeeding Week? Or what is the reason behind this publicity? Person like me—little bit educated, living and working in a city, have access to TV, newspaper, and Internet. But don't they think person like me with all these access can give one hour lecture about breastfeeding and its benefit?
I asked elderly, young and rural mothers, whoever came in my contact, if they think about other than breastfeeding. They replied, only in cases if the mother dies during delivery. This means the average mother does not have alternative to breastfeeding. And I don't think any mother would compromise with their baby's health. Plus, there is financial burden if we try another option to breastfeeding. And I can tell it really makes a big difference in your monthly budget.
As per my experience and understanding, breastfeeding could be choice only if there is some serious problem between mother and the baby. There are cases of mothers avoiding breastfeeding due to beauty concern. But what is the percentage of these cases? Till date I haven't come across such cases except for some celebrities. And here are the agencies just focused on the benefits of breastfeeding as if people are unaware of it. I strongly believe that they are not relating breastfeeding with actual problems faced by the mothers.
The breastfeeding agenda has to widen its scope. The programs like World Breastfeeding Week should not be limited to raising awareness but focus on practical problems and their solutions. An average mother like me, who failed to breastfeed despite all efforts, can list these problems.
Are you fit for breastfeeding? Is your breast well-developed for lactation? Will it produce enough? Is your nipple baby-friendly? Do the mothers have enough support at home and hospital if they face problem? Or who/where is the support system to get help for breastfeeding? If you are a working mother in an office, does your organization have breastfeeding friendly policy? How long do you get maternity leave (paid/unpaid)? Is it sufficient for you? If you are working at home, do you have helping hands? Do you get enough time to spend with your baby? Above all, what should you do or what could be the best option if you fail to breastfeed? The list goes on.
I was not aware of these issues as a new mother but now I know what the things were that I should have prepared. And I bet very few to-be moms are prepared with these issues. I didn't even know whom to contact when my baby could not suck. I tried finding out breast/lactation consultant but could not find a confident one. I am thankful to my sisters and friends who were the only consultants I could lean on.
I am sorry to say this but this World Breastfeeding Week is of no use if they are going to appear in the same way as they have been for years.
The author holds a Masters Degree in Development Studies and Culture Change from Macquarie University, Australia
kalakoyu@gmail.com
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