'Breast-feeding dads' help cut infant mortality

Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The term "breast-feeding fathers" does not describe a new technology enabling men to produce breast milk and then feed their babies.

Breast-feeding fathers are husbands who are aware of the importance of breast milk -- the ultimate baby food -- and are getting involved in the breast-feeding process.

A study by the United States' Department of Pediatrics found that fathers played a significant role in successful breast- feeding, meaning the good production and "distribution" of breast milk.

Its study of 115 postpartum mothers found that of those women whose husbands were not involved in the breast-feeding process, only 26.9 percent had no trouble breast-feeding.

For those women whose husbands were involved in the process, the percentage of success was 98.1 percent.

According to pediatrician Utami Roesli from the Indonesian Lactation Center, breast milk is produced by a hormone called oxytocyn, or the "love hormone".

"This hormone can be stimulated with positive thoughts and affection," she said at a recent discussion.

Unfortunately, many postpartum mothers have experiences that hamper the production and distribution of breast milk, like stress, anxiety and feelings of embarrassment about breast- feeding because they live with their in-laws.

Even the slightest negative thought, according to Utami, will hamper the production and distribution of breast milk. "When mothers are afraid of not producing enough breast milk, then their fears will come true."

The prevalence of mothers in the world who cannot produce breast milk is only one out of every 1,000 mothers, she said. If more mothers have difficulty in breast-feeding, it is more likely because of psychological problems.

Another factor is what Utami called "nipple confusion", or a baby's inability to suckle correctly because it is separated from its mother after delivery.

Utami showed a video of a newborn baby who was put on its mother's stomach and immediately crawled to her mother's breast to suckle.

"This is called the primitive crawling reflex and every newborn baby has it, except for those who are separated from their mothers for more than 30 minutes after the delivery," Utami said.

In such cases, breast milk production may be sufficient but it is not being distributed well. However, breast milk production is based on the principle of supply and demand -- no new milk will be produced if there is still enough of a supply.

With so many factors contributing to the success or failure of the breast-feeding process, fathers should understand and play more of a role in the breast-feeding process.

For instance, fathers can help by taking care of the baby, doing household chores and other tasks to help out their wives and create a more comfortable and peaceful atmosphere at home.

As a father carries the baby to its mother to be fed, helps change its diapers, sings to his child and massages the mother and the baby -- oxytocyn will disperse and breast milk will overflow.

The role of fathers is so significant that Michigan State University has recommended breast milk education for fathers and families.

In Australia and the United States, fathers are eligible for two-week paternity leave, while Sweden offers one-year paternity leave at 80 percent of their salary.

In Indonesia, paternity leave is nonexistent, while the advantages of successful breast-feeding are, perhaps, far beyond what most fathers could imagine.

For postpartum mothers, breast-feeding will reduce postpartum hemorrhaging and anemia, works as birth control, helps sex organs and body weight return to normal faster, and it is also economical and saves time.

As for fathers, they will have healthier babies and wives, and breast-feeding also reduces the household budget.

Most importantly, a greater awareness of breast-feeding can help lower the infant mortality rate, which is now at a staggering 51 babies per 1,000 births -- meaning over 140,000 babies aged less than one week die each year, or about 2,690 per week.

"We're one of the worst in Southeast Asia (in terms of infant mortality); very embarrassing. A baby dies every 7.5 minutes, most of them aged less than 30 days," Utami said.

The main killers of babies are premature births and being underweight at birth, as well as respiratory infections and diarrhea.

"Many of them are malnourished, therefore breast milk is very essential. It's cheap and portable, but the advantages are very high," Utami said.

It takes a village, as they say, to raise a child. But apparently, it only takes an aware father to bring up a healthy child.