"Please, please, breast feed" when possible

Monday 31 July 2023

Ahead of World Breastfeeding Week, one of Guernsey's paediatricians is working with the Priaulx Premature Baby Foundation to encourage mums to "please, please breast feed" where possible.

Dr Gopinath Rao has advocated breastfeeding saying it is the best for baby, and has health benefits for the mother too.

Acknowledging that some women do have trouble breastfeeding he said that a look back in time proves that improvements in paediatric and neonatal care have been matched by further evidence of the benefits of breastfeeding where possible.

"If I went back in time and asked my grandmother about breastfeeding, she wouldn't know anything about what we know today," he said. "All she would know is it's important to keep the baby alive. That's the food for the baby. That's all they knew. But we have had so much scientific advancement and we understand how important breastfeeding is.

"It's not just about the nutritional value. It's about the emotional value as well, both for the baby and the mum."

The proven benefits of breastfeeding include improving the baby's immunity meaning they have fewer infections such as diarrhoea and vomiting, fewer allergies, fewer respiratory problems, and a reduced instance of things like eczema and other skin problems.

Pictured: Dr Gopinath Rao and Jo Priaulx.

"Universally, it's good news if we can get the babies to breastfeed," said Dr Rao, "and when we talk about mums' benefits, I think one of the most important things is the emotional bonding that the mum gets when she breastfeeds the baby.

"We don't understand how much emotional bonding baby gets from the mum's side, I think will take a few more years of research for us to understand, but I think it really is important for the mum's emotional well being as well."

Dr Rao said that breastfeeding mums also have a lower risk of breast cancer, mood disorders, low mood or depression, and they lose less blood after giving birth. They also find it easier to lose weight. 

"...if you think about the short term benefits soon after the baby is born, mums lose less blood after the baby is born because there is one particular hormone called oxytocin, which comes from the brain into the bloodstream, which helps in two things - to get the milk out and to contract the uterus to make it shrink.

"So in two ways, this particular hormone really helps. The pregnant uterus after childbirth needs to get back into the pre-pregnant size, and this hormone plays a huge role in that. So that comes back to trying to encourage breastfeeding as soon after birth as possible."

It's important to recognise that many mums will have difficulty breastfeeding, with some unable to do so at all.

Jo Priaulx, founder of the PPBF, said she couldn't breastfeed despite really wanting to when her son was born four weeks early.

"...he got taken away really quickly and my milk didn't actually come in...but they have to get the most important bit out, which is the collustrum, which they did with a syringe.

"I tried to express and express for a couple of weeks. I have to be honest, and I didn't carry on with breastfeeding. But I think hearing from what Doctor Rao says, it is so important to keep going."

Seb Priaulx is now a thriving young man with a career in motorsports, and on the day his mum spoke with Express he had been on a bike ride around the island just hours after flying home from America.

Pictured: Seb Priaulx in action recently.

Dr Rao said combining breast and formula milk is one option for women struggling to breastfeed, while formula milk and equipment such as bottles and breast pumps have all been improved developmentally over the years.

"Everyone's got a unique journey," he said. "It's just working out what's best for you and your baby."

He advised mums to discuss their feeding options and plans with their midwives and the obstetric team. He said they can help with many problems associated with breastfeeding such as issues latching, tongue ties, neurological issues or other problems. 

Dr Rao said there also some occasions where mums are asked not to breastfeed or they are unable to through separation.

"Any separation, even for a few hours causes a problem with both mum and baby and the emotional bonding is disrupted there," Dr Rao explained.

When a baby or young child needs treatment at Southampton Hospital there are three flats owned by the PPBF which can be used by families. 

Mrs Priaulx said that means the mother is so close to where the baby is which can help her continue breastfeeding. The charity has also provided things like breast pads, electric breast pumps and bottles.

"We make sure we've got the right bottles, we've also got nipple shields, and a cover if they want to breastfeed and a bag for cooling so they can express when out. So we're trying to promote it.

"It's about giving (mums) options and then let them decide what they want to do."

Pictured: One of the Priaulx Premature Baby Foundation's flats in Southampton.

Dr Rao said UK statistics suggest around 15% of babies are still being breastfed at three months old.

"...there's always room for improvement," he said. 

"...if you look at the numbers, how many mothers actually start breastfeeding, it's a decent number, 75% nearly, but then, because of various reasons, it falls down to 15 to 17 % by the end of three months.

"If it was so easy, we wouldn't be talking about it so much. So we keep talking about it because it is something tricky and difficult. I have no idea how our ancestors in previous generations just managed it.

"It is tricky, but we have policies and procedures in place to make things easy for families, and these mums and babies, so I think we should promote it."

"It's about encouragement," said Dr Rao. "So 'Please, Please Breast Feed' and speak to the midwives and health visitors."

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