Stop focusing on delivery method

Your front page article regarding a starving newborn during hospital care (Bottle-fed newborn ‘starving’ in hospital, Jan 18) amplifies the importance of this issue. Tragically, not an isolated event.

For a neonate to be screaming and starving is reprehensible. Why are neonates being allowed by district health boards to become so stressed, suffer excessive weight loss, and, of huge significance, delay vital calories so necessary for their brain function? All impact on wellbeing and bonding. The extent of potential damage is immeasurable.

The elephant in the room is ‘‘Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative’’. While of the best intent, this policy can be anything but baby friendly.

The establishment of lactation in modern women is fraught or commonly delayed due to women being of advanced age, having required fertility support, living with comorbidities, history of previous breast reduction surgery, increase in labour interventions and high rate of caesarean section.

All impact on ability to lactate adequately. The birth event is often traumatic, followed by severe sleep deprivation. The biggest cause of maternal death is suicide and postnatal depression is common.

All women need to feel empowered and supported by their decision on how they choose to feed their baby. The mother-baby dyad should be nurtured.

I urge all women to access the website FED IS BEST. JUDITH ANDERSON Kowhai Park