Encouraging Breastfeeding: a Review of Breastfeeding Benefits and the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative
ENCOURAGING BREASTFEEDING: A REVIEW OF BREASTFEEDING BENEFITS AND THE BABY FRIENDLY HOSPITAL INITIATIVE
Adlina Suleiman, MD, MPH
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (New York)
Baby Friendly Hospital National Assessor
Zainab Kassim, MRCPI(Paeds)
Paediatric Consultant and Lecturer, International Islamic University
Siti Norjinah Moin
President, Malaysian Breastfeeding Association
Baby Friendly Hospital International Assessor
SUMMARY
Doctors, being at the forefront of maternal and child care do not enquire about
the child’s feeding during immunization. Even if the doctors ask about nutrition,
no enquiry is made as to why mothers do not breastfeed exclusively for the first 6
months. Many general practitioners are unaware of the benefits of exclusive
breastfeeding much less lactation management. Lactation management is not a
subject taught in medical school. Even with WHO and UNICEF support in promoting
breastfeeding in Malaysia, there are still many doctors and hospital administrators who
belittle this subject. The Ministry of Health Malaysia has been exemplary whereby all
public hospitals have attained the Baby Friendly Status. In the private sector, only two
hospitals out of the more then 200 in Malaysia have attained the status. Only USM
Kubang Kerian have attained the Baby Friendly status in the Ministry of Education
owned hospitals. The Kinrara Armed Forces Hospital and Lumut Armed Forces
Hospital owned by the Ministry of Defence have also attained the status.
This article was written to review the countless number of studies carried out on
the benefits of breastfeeding. It wishes to bring forth in a concise manner some
of the more relevant and latest benefits of breastfeeding. It would also address the issue
of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative. It is hoped that with this article more studies
Adlina Suleiman, MD, MPH
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (New York)
Baby Friendly Hospital National Assessor
Zainab Kassim, MRCPI(Paeds)
Paediatric Consultant and Lecturer, International Islamic University
Siti Norjinah Moin
President, Malaysian Breastfeeding Association
Baby Friendly Hospital International Assessor
SUMMARY
Doctors, being at the forefront of maternal and child care do not enquire about
the child’s feeding during immunization. Even if the doctors ask about nutrition,
no enquiry is made as to why mothers do not breastfeed exclusively for the first 6
months. Many general practitioners are unaware of the benefits of exclusive
breastfeeding much less lactation management. Lactation management is not a
subject taught in medical school. Even with WHO and UNICEF support in promoting
breastfeeding in Malaysia, there are still many doctors and hospital administrators who
belittle this subject. The Ministry of Health Malaysia has been exemplary whereby all
public hospitals have attained the Baby Friendly Status. In the private sector, only two
hospitals out of the more then 200 in Malaysia have attained the status. Only USM
Kubang Kerian have attained the Baby Friendly status in the Ministry of Education
owned hospitals. The Kinrara Armed Forces Hospital and Lumut Armed Forces
Hospital owned by the Ministry of Defence have also attained the status.
This article was written to review the countless number of studies carried out on
the benefits of breastfeeding. It wishes to bring forth in a concise manner some
of the more relevant and latest benefits of breastfeeding. It would also address the issue
of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative. It is hoped that with this article more studies
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