SIDON, Lebanon: In cooperation with three local NGOs, UNICEF Sunday organized an educational seminar on natural breast-feeding practices with 30 health workers in Sidon’s public library lecture hall. The seminar aimed to help target single and married women, especially recent mothers. Several experts discussed breast-feeding methods and techniques to help spread best practice and promote the natural feeding of newborns, as studies have shown only 18 percent of Lebanese mothers breast-feed up to five months.
“This training was organized by UNICEF, in collaboration with local NGOs such as the Rising Youth Union of Marjayoun, the Blue Mission Organization, and the International Orthodox Christian Charities,” UNICEF’s Health and Nutrition Coordinator for South Lebanon Dr. Ruham Yammout told The Daily Star.
The session trained a number of volunteers who will in turn work with mothers and women to guide them on breast-feeding practices.
Large screens also displayed techniques for breast-feeding that allow a woman to feed a baby without becoming sore or hurting her nipples – techniques employed not for beauty or aesthetic purposes, but that are driven by a natural need. Infant dummies were also distributed to participants to practice holding during breast-feeding.
The training also aimed to debunk old myths and misnomers, such as about mothers being unable to produce enough milk, or that infants cannot be fed on a mother’s milk alone. Such myths are inaccurate because a mother’s milk does provide all the nutritional needs for a baby.
An explanation on the benefits of natural milk over formula was also presented to the audience.
“We are focusing on the necessity of breast-feeding in a healthy manner and eradicating preconceived notions, because studies have shown that they affect breast-feeding behaviors,” Yammout said.
She also explained that many factors could affect a mother’s choice to stop breast-feeding. These include advertisements for powdered infant formula, as well as a general culture of consumerism in Lebanon that means many mothers opt to buy ready-made products. The World Health Organization and the Lebanese Health Ministry have raised concerns over these very issues.
As such, affiliated parties are promoting mothers’ natural milk and motivating mothers to breast-feed, informing them of the benefits of this practice.
Some mothers believe that their milk is not sufficient, or stop breast-feeding if their infant has a reaction to the milk or suffers from Hepatitis C, while others believe natural milk lacks the needed nutrients the baby needs.
“We are saying that every woman that has a baby [can] become a breast-feeder,” Yammout said. She praised women who breast-feed for others as well, calling them “great human beings.”
“These days, it is difficult to arrange for such services, except in special cases like the death of the mother or a lack of a breast due to surgical reasons,” Yammout said.
A breast-feeder is preferred to baby formula she said, adding that notions such as “my milk is drying” or “my milk leaks” should not exist in a mother’s lexicon. “These notions do not exist in nature, they are man-made because we live in a world that depends on speed and lacks patience or awareness,” she added.
“This training was organized by UNICEF, in collaboration with local NGOs such as the Rising Youth Union of Marjayoun, the Blue Mission Organization, and the International Orthodox Christian Charities,” UNICEF’s Health and Nutrition Coordinator for South Lebanon Dr. Ruham Yammout told The Daily Star.
The session trained a number of volunteers who will in turn work with mothers and women to guide them on breast-feeding practices.
Large screens also displayed techniques for breast-feeding that allow a woman to feed a baby without becoming sore or hurting her nipples – techniques employed not for beauty or aesthetic purposes, but that are driven by a natural need. Infant dummies were also distributed to participants to practice holding during breast-feeding.
The training also aimed to debunk old myths and misnomers, such as about mothers being unable to produce enough milk, or that infants cannot be fed on a mother’s milk alone. Such myths are inaccurate because a mother’s milk does provide all the nutritional needs for a baby.
An explanation on the benefits of natural milk over formula was also presented to the audience.
“We are focusing on the necessity of breast-feeding in a healthy manner and eradicating preconceived notions, because studies have shown that they affect breast-feeding behaviors,” Yammout said.
She also explained that many factors could affect a mother’s choice to stop breast-feeding. These include advertisements for powdered infant formula, as well as a general culture of consumerism in Lebanon that means many mothers opt to buy ready-made products. The World Health Organization and the Lebanese Health Ministry have raised concerns over these very issues.
As such, affiliated parties are promoting mothers’ natural milk and motivating mothers to breast-feed, informing them of the benefits of this practice.
Some mothers believe that their milk is not sufficient, or stop breast-feeding if their infant has a reaction to the milk or suffers from Hepatitis C, while others believe natural milk lacks the needed nutrients the baby needs.
“We are saying that every woman that has a baby [can] become a breast-feeder,” Yammout said. She praised women who breast-feed for others as well, calling them “great human beings.”
“These days, it is difficult to arrange for such services, except in special cases like the death of the mother or a lack of a breast due to surgical reasons,” Yammout said.
A breast-feeder is preferred to baby formula she said, adding that notions such as “my milk is drying” or “my milk leaks” should not exist in a mother’s lexicon. “These notions do not exist in nature, they are man-made because we live in a world that depends on speed and lacks patience or awareness,” she added.
Source & Link : The Daily Star
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