“The Baby Is Boss”: Guyana Pushes for Breastfeeding Support in All Spaces

Breastfeeding is a lifelong foundation for a child’s health, development, and emotional well-being. However, to realise its endless benefits, mothers need the support of their families, communities, workplaces and health systems. Hence, this year’s World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7) was observed under the theme, “Prioritize Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems”.

Family Support

Gillian Trim, Director (ag.) of the Food and Nutrition Unit-Ministry of Health appeared on EdYouFM this week to discuss ongoing efforts to improve breastfeeding outcomes across Guyana. Breastfeeding success is not solely the responsibility of mothers, thus the Ministry is targeting all levels of support, beginning with the family. “We try to educate fathers. If he is educated about breastfeeding, he knows of all the benefits. He knows when a child is latched on properly and positioned correctly. He can support the mother,” she stated. Ms. Trim also admonished other family members to avoid outdated practices like giving infants water stating, “The breast milk contains all the water that the baby needs”.

Support in Public Spaces and at Work

Following the guidance of the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Ministry of Health is promoting responsive baby-led breastfeeding. “The baby is boss,” Ms. Trim stated. “If the baby is indicating to us via cues that they’re ready to breastfeed, mommy should also be ready… It could be in the streets, in a minibus, in a public place, at the bank”. Thus, she called for a more accepting attitude towards mothers breastfeeding in public. Further, she encouraged employers to designate clean spaces for mothers to express milk. “[The mother] must have a sink where she can wash her hands or wash her utensils, and also a fridge or a space in the fridge where she can store her breast milk, and she can take it to the caregiver to feed it to her child”, Ms. Trim outlined. Moreover, she pleaded with employers to extend grace and to be flexible with new mothers. “If a mother comes back out from maternity leave, what they can do is give her a little bit more time. Remember, she’s still breastfeeding. She has to go and express. Maybe have some of her roles shared by some of her colleagues. Give her a bit more time. Be flexible with her.” Additionally, Ms. Trim recommended that larger organisations establish a day-care on site so that working mommies can breastfeed their babies conveniently. The Food and Nutrition Director (ag.) guaranteed that these supportive measures will incentivise mothers to perform better at work, and thereby benefit employers.

Gillian Trim, Director (ag.) Food and Nutrition Unit- Ministry of Health

Why Breastfeeding Matters

Breastfeeding has many health benefits for both mommy and baby. “Breastfeeding is baby’s first immunization”, Ms. Trim stated. “It protects against ear infections, diarrhea, pneumonia, and respiratory diseases.” For moms, breastfeeding reduces the risk of developing ovarian and breast cancer. It also helps to restore mommy’s figure by pulling her womb back into position. Breastfeeding also has financial benefits because it is extremely cost effective. Ms. Trim outlined that if a mother chooses not to breastfeed at all, she will need to buy 44 tins of formula in six months, which is very expensive. So to cut costs, some mothers will try to “stretch the formula”. “With that”, Ms. Trim cautioned, “you’re giving baby a belly full, yes, but it’s void of the nutrients. And we don’t want to do that to our babies. So do not even use the formula. Breastfeed.” Breast milk is also very easy to store. Once it’s not too hot, breast milk can stay at room temperature for six to eight hours in a clean container. It can also sit in the refrigerator for up to five days. To use it, simply take it out and stand it in another container with some hot water. Do not microwave or boil breast milk as excess heat will destroy the nutrients. Breastfeeding is free, always available, and produces no waste. As Ms. Trim puts it, “It’s liquid gold!” Therefore, she urges us all to “protect, promote, and support breastfeeding.”

Baby-Friendly Hospitals Being Reintroduced

Ms. Trim also highlighted the critical role of health facilities in prioritising breastfeeding and creating sustainable support systems for mother and baby through the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI). The BFHI is a global program which promotes breastfeeding-friendly practices in maternity wards so that mothers and babies can have the best quality care during their stay at the hospital. Before the BFHI, newborn babies were separated from their mothers and placed in a nursery. Now, through the BFHI mothers are allowed to room-in with their babies. This enables them to bond with their newborn and learn their baby’s cues. Regarding hunger cues, Ms. Trim explained that crying is usually the last cue. By that point, “baby would have [already] put the finger in the mouth, had a lot of rapid eye movement, and been a little bit fussy.” Those are baby’s earliest hunger cues, which occur long before the crying stage. “ If baby is in a nursery”, she said, “Mommy would not be able to identify those cues, and she would not be able to respond to a child’s cue for feeding or for comfort.” So it is important that new mothers learn these cues so that they can promptly respond to their babies’ needs. Furthermore, Ms. Trim explained that the BFHI begins by educating mothers at the health centres during pregnancy. Expectant mothers are informed about the benefits of skin-to-skin contact particularly in the first hour after delivery, exclusive breastfeeding and other antenatal and post-partum guidelines.

Celebration in Mahdia

Last year, the Ministry of Health observed World Breastfeeding Week in Bartica, Region 7. This year, the observance was held in Mahdia, Region 8. The Ministry hosted an awareness walk in the community, as well as health talks, and breastfeeding education sessions in the hinterland region. Across the country, clinics and health centers also hosted baby races, quizzes, and baby dressing contests to encourage family involvement. To further promote breastfeeding, some health centres have also awarded mothers who have exclusively breastfed their babies.

Written By: Carlene Samuel