This week marks World Breastfeeding Week, a celebration officially established by the World Health Organization and UNICEF in 1992, which advocates breastfeeding.
On the occasion of World Breastfeeding Week, we interviewed Dr. Vanessa Segarra, specialist in Pediatrics and expert in neonatology, premature babies, child development and breastfeeding, to answer some classic doubts about breastfeeding and others related to breastfeeding and the pandemic situation we are experiencing due to COVID-19.
- Mother’s milk is watery and does not nourish the baby: it must be clear that breast milk is the ideal food for the baby.
- You only have to feed 10 minutes of each breast every 3 hours: breastfeeding is on demand, some babies will feed more and others less, but they will probably ask for more often than 3 hours.
- Breastfeeding spoils the breast: it is true that the breast is more saggy, but this is due to pregnancy itself, as the breast increases in volume. In fact, breastfeeding helps the mother’s recovery.
- Drinking beer makes the mother produce more milk: this statement is not proven and in any case, the mother would have to drink a lot of beer and consequently the baby would drink a lot of alcohol.
“mothers have a lot of difficulties in carrying out breastfeeding in many areas”.
Benefits of breastfeeding
Breastfeeding immediately after birth is important because the immune system of newborns is not yet fully mature. For this reason, breastfeeding is often referred to as “the first vaccine”.
According to the WHO, the main benefits of breast milk are:
- Protect against diseases (pneumonia, diarrhea, ear infections and asthma, etc.).
- Reducing costs associated with health care
- Preventing overweight in children (Adult Metabolic Syndrome)
- Promote bonding
In addition, it has undoubted benefits for the mother, as it protects against ovarian cancer and breast cancer.
Another interesting benefit highlighted by Dr. Segarra is that “at an economic-family level, breast milk is free and is always ready”, making it more convenient to feed the baby.
The importance of creating an environment conducive to breastfeeding
Once the great benefits of breastfeeding are known, both for the baby and the mother, as well as for society in general, it is crucial that the mother finds an environment conducive to breastfeeding in the different areas of her life. Likewise, family and community support and the correct application of equitable equality policies are very necessary to accompany the mother.
We asked Dr. Segarra which are the areas in which the mother has greater difficulties to breastfeed and her initial answer was categorical: “mothers have many difficulties to breastfeed in many areas”. There are still fundamental factors that weigh on breastfeeding: “in the family environment we have a very bottle-feeding culture” and in addition, “at work, when the mother has to start working at three and a half months, it is impossible to breastfeed for six months. The numbers don’t add up. Another factor that limits breastfeeding is the social environment: “How many times have we seen a mother breastfeeding in a swimming pool and she has been told that she can’t do that? On the other hand, when faced with a situation of a child taking a bottle, no one says anything.
It is clear that progress is being made, such as the equalization of paternity leave with maternity leave, but greater support and awareness of breastfeeding is needed. In view of this situation, the doctor explains that “we need the community to help mothers so that they can maintain exclusive breastfeeding”.
Can COVID-19 be transmitted through breastfeeding?
There is currently no evidence that COVID-19 virus is transmitted through breastfeeding. In Spain, two studies led by researchers from the Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA-CSIC) of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the Hospital Clínico de València have determined the impact of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection on breastfeeding. In these studies, no traces of the virus were found in any of the milk samples analyzed and, in addition, most of them showed specific antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, both in naturally infected and vaccinated women.
“The difficulties encountered by mothers in pandemics are that they have nowhere to consult”.
Recommendations on breastfeeding in the context of pandemic
In relation to the same fact of breastfeeding, Dr. Segarra recommends following the general guidelines that are recommended for breastfeeding, but points out that “the difficulties that mothers in the pandemic are encountering is that they have nowhere to consult. At another time, moms can go out more and meet with other mothers and discuss. They have a group service, which has been lost with the pandemic”. Faced with this situation, the recommendation she makes is to look for online groups or talk to other mothers on the phone, to avoid loneliness when breastfeeding. In addition, if doubts arise, they can always make an appointment with a breastfeeding specialist.