Breastfeeding Insights
The list of potential ailments that can come with breastfeeding is a long one: from cracked or sore nipples, to blocked milk ducts, inverted nipples, thrush, mastitis and more. For every mother who struggles to get their baby to latch, another has trouble getting them off at the end because they’ve fallen asleep.
So, is it worth the effort? We take a look at some of the fascinating facts around breastfeeding, and find out how our panel of mums managed to negotiate this totally tricky aspect of parenthood.
Benefits of breastfeeding
There are plenty of reasons why it’s at least worth persevering with breastfeeding. For one thing, once you and baby get the hang of it, it can make life so much easier. You can feed your baby anywhere, without having to worry about sterilising bottles, trying to find hot water and carrying around enough formula for the day. (It’s also cheaper!)
Plus, there’s a good body of research that suggests that breastfeeding has many benefits; these range from reducing the risk of diseases in mum and baby alike, to creating a better bond between the two, increasing mum’s chance of postnatal weight loss, and reducing the likelihood of childhood obesity.
While rates of breastfeeding are low in Singapore, it’s still a more breastfeeding-friendly city than you’d expect. Most shopping malls here have at least one nursing room where you can breastfeed, bottle feed and change nappies. Some even have sterilisers, hot water dispensers for making formula and high chairs for feeding solids. These areas can really help when you’re out and about!
“Mother’s milk” is the very definition of comfort and enjoyment, yet for many mums, providing milk for a newborn can be a trial.
Need some support?
If you’re having trouble with feeding, most hospitals hold classes every morning for new mums, and many run free breastfeeding clinics for former patients. Alternatively, you can seek help from one of the following organisations: