Pleasure instead of burden – Norway is a role model when it comes to breastfeeding
International symposium at the BfR for the 10th anniversary of the National Breastfeeding Commission
Breast milk is the best, most convenient and least expensive food for the newborn. Breastfeeding should therefore actually be a matter of course for mothers. But it isn't, as a look at current statistics shows. In Germany, more than 90 percent of babies born in hospitals are placed on the mother's breast. At the age of 6 months, however, only 48 percent of babies are able to enjoy the super cocktail. Not enough, according to the BfR, because breast milk is tailored precisely to the needs of the child and protects both mother and child from illnesses. "The National Breastfeeding Committee at the BfR, which was set up 10 years ago, has set itself the goal of Norwegian conditions," explains Chair Professor Hildegard Przyrembel. "There, at the age of 6 months, 80% of the children are still exclusively breastfed."The cause of this Norwegian "breastfeeding miracle" is one of the topics of the international symposium to which the National Breastfeeding Commission invited experts from all over the world to mark its 10th anniversary. Around 30 years ago, Norway was in a similar situation to Germany today: due to the medicalization of childbirth, the separation of mother and newborn for reasons of hygiene and the availability of bottled meals at all times (as prescribed by doctors) was the Number of mothers still breastfeeding in the sixth month after childbirth fell to 30%. "The turnaround started in the 70s," says Professor Gro Nylander of Rikshospitalet in Oslo. “It reflects the new self-image of women, but also follows from the fact that the state and the public health system, together with employers, have created conditions that allow Norwegian women to exclusively breastfeed their children for more than six months. In addition, there is a fundamental change in public opinion, which no longer perceives breastfeeding as a burden but as a pleasure.”
The fact that the number of mothers who breastfeed for more than six months is now increasing in Germany is certainly also a success of the tireless educational work of the National Breastfeeding Commission at the BfR. In it, doctors, midwives, breastfeeding consultants and self-help groups work together to improve breastfeeding conditions in the clinic, at work and in the private sphere. It is a policy of small but effective steps that is being pursued here. And she shows success. Among other things, it was achieved that the production of free daily portions of infant formula was discontinued in 2004. In the past, such tests tempted some mothers not to take the path of breastfeeding at all, but to get the babies used to the bottle right away.
Other thematic priorities of the symposium deal with the question of the influence of breastfeeding on infections and the development of allergies, obesity or diabetes mellitus in children: breastfeeding is not a panacea and does not offer absolute protection, but children who are breastfed are less likely to develop infections the upper airways and gastrointestinal tract. Long-term observations indicate that breast milk can protect against allergies to a certain extent and that breastfeeding reduces the risk of obesity. Breastfed children also have a lower risk of developing type 1 diabetes mellitus.
The question of when sick mothers should not breastfeed their child for health reasons will also be discussed at the symposium. Only very few diseases are considered an obstacle to breastfeeding: According to the experts, mothers with hepatitis C infection, for example, can breastfeed. HIV-infected mothers are different: they should not breastfeed. Affected mothers should always seek qualified advice.
If possible, sick and immature children should also be able to enjoy breast milk. This requires special efforts by the staff in the maternity hospitals.
Source: Berlin [bfr]
