'Breast-feeding dads' help cut infant mortality

'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.