The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

WITH numerous myths and misinformation surrounding breastfeeding, one local organisation is on a mission to educate mothers and create awareness of this age-old practice.

“Do not worry about what happened the first time you tried, maybe you weren’t educated on it properly,” said Trineka Hall, nurse and member of the Bahamas National Breastfeeding Association (BNBA). “We offer classes in the government and a private setting if mothers need the information on knowing how to latch the baby on properly.”

While there are most definitely negative attitudes that are taught to women, mainly mothers-to-be, Nurse Hall’s advice is for them to become more educated on the issue before making a permanent decision to not do it at all.

“If you feel pain when breastfeeding you must detach the baby and put the baby back on the breast properly. If you only have the nipple in the mouth you will feel slight pain,” she said.

Last week, members of the BNBA dedicated a few days to highlight the importance of breastfeeding by hosting a number of events for mothers and their children.

Activities included at National T-shirt Day, ‘Baby Olympics’, an Umbrellathon, a church service, Talk Show Bahamas and a social at the Reef Restaurant, all hosted under the theme “Breastfeeding – The Gold Standard For Health.”

Nurse Hall said the BNBA advocates that mothers breastfeed for at least six months. To her knowledge, she said, 40 per cent of women in the Bahamas breastfeed. It is not the majority, because most women are doing what is called “the combo” approach – breastfeeding and also giving baby formula when it’s time to leave for work and take on daily activities.

As a mother, midwife and registered nurse, this educational initiative is something Nurse Hall is very passionate about. She said she believes it is important that all women know that breast milk is the perfect food for their babies.

“We want the children to have the best start, and breastfeeding is the gold standard and best start any baby can have. I teach classes at the South Beach Clinic and there are so many things women do not know, there is always new information to learn,” she said.

She shared some of observations of Bahamian mothers who agreed that breastfeeding is the way to go.

One mother, Rochelle Dean, said she exclusively breastfed all her three daughters. Illeana Harvey, a naturalist, said breast milk was the best decision for her daughter.

“She loved it. I was admitted into the hospital for a breast related issue and still breastfed her. I was determined to breastfeed exclusively for six months,” she said.

Aware of all the benefits as she is also a registered nurse, Bianca Edwards said she had to breastfeed because she wanted to do what was best for her daughter.

Coreen Douglas said she contracted chickenpox a week after her son was born, however, it did not deter her from breastfeeding him.

“It has been proven that women who breastfeed exclusively, they have a lower risk of conditions like breast and ovarian cancer and osteoporosis. There are many other benefits, as it is more convenient for a woman not having to worry about all those bottles, sterilising and going to the shop for formula and things like that. You just turn over in the middle of the night if you need to give a feed and give the baby the breast,” said Nurse Hall.

She said the association continues to host meetings this and every Tuesday where they meet women who are interested in breastfeeding. The group is working on putting together pamphlets and local billboards to further their efforts.

“You need money to get these things done and when you don’t have it everything is at a standstill. We have a lot of things on the agenda but we also need sponsors from as many persons as possible to build this association. When we ask people to purchase a shirt or anything we are having, we really need that help. This was a long time coming because our members are not large in number; it is a small organisation. We are trying to do what we can for this to grow by encouraging our Bahamian mothers who are breastfeeding, and even the persons who can lend a hand to help us get things going with this association,” said Nurse Hall.