Support Systems for Breastfeeding: Family, Society, and Healthcare - Mrs Joyce Jayaseelan

Breastfeeding is a vital practice that offers numerous benefits for both mothers and babies, and its success relies heavily on a favourable environment.

Breastfeeding is an innocent and healthy practice that bestows many benefits on mothers and babies. Since it is a key component of postpartum care, it requires a favourable setting to be effective. Support from family, society, and the health system is required in initiating and maintaining breastfeeding.

Family Support: The Pillar of Breastfeeding

A supportive family goes a long way with the breastfeeding process of a mother. The partner, grandparents, and other family members can offer support in terms of emotional support, domestic chores, and meal assistance, thereby allowing the mother to focus entirely on the baby's lactation. 

Family members can also be educated about breastfeeding, its benefits, as well as the common problems, so they can offer informed encouragement and support.

Societal Support: Breaking Down Barriers

Social norms and attitudes have the potential to affect breastfeeding prevalence. Public tolerance and social acceptance of breastfeeding in public may render the practice a norm. 

Employers may facilitate breastfeeding-supportive practices, such as paid maternity leave, lactation rooms, and flexible working hours, to enable mothers to balance work and breastfeeding. 

Communities may establish breastfeeding support groups, workshops, and awareness campaigns to engender a culture of support and acceptance.

Medical Support: Expert Guidance and Care

Medical assistance is crucial in aiding and sustaining breastfeeding. Medical staff can offer evidence-based care, support, and education to breastfeeding women. 

Lactation specialists and professionals can offer specialised assistance and iron out frequent problems of breastfeeding, such as latching, nipple soreness, and low milk volume. 

Baby-friendly practices like skin-to-skin contact, rooming-in, and avoiding giving formula except for medically accepted reasons may be implemented by hospitals and birth facilities.

Strengths of Group Support

Where coordination exists among family, society, and healthcare workers to promote breastfeeding, there are numerous benefits. 

There is an increase in the rate of breastfeeding, and mothers are more successful with breastfeeding programs. The infants receive the optimal diet, and mothers have physical as well as psychological benefits, such as lower rates of postpartum depression and some cancers. 

Breastfeeding also helps to save health resources and create a healthier society.

Challenges and Solutions

Though there are advantages, breastfeeding is not necessarily easy. Nipple pain, correct latching, and inadequate milk supply are common problems that can be addressed by lactation consultants and health workers. 

Family members may provide emotional support and household assistance so the mother can concentrate on breastfeeding. Social support may help make breastfeeding more mainstream and establish a supportive atmosphere.

Breastfeeding is a social process that requires the support of society, family, and healthcare providers. Together, we can create a culture that supports breastfeeding, supports mothers to excel at breastfeeding, and provides children with a healthier beginning. 

Let us as a society move towards creating an environment that honours and prefers breastfeeding so that mothers can excel and children can develop. By doing so, we can reap a lot of the benefits of breastfeeding and help bring about a better future for the generations to follow.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are of the author and not of Health Dialogues. The Editorial/Content team of Health Dialogues has not contributed to the writing/editing/packaging of this article.