As the Ministry of Health continues to push

exclusive breastfeeding for at least the first six months of a child’s life,

two mothers from Montego Bay are encouraging more mothers to take up the habit.

They admit that while breastfeeding is not

easy, it is worth the effort, as it provides significant benefits for the whole

family.

Stacey Goodwill, who breastfed her now

one-year-old son exclusively for six months, tells JIS News that the practice

helps both mother and child.

“One thing for sure, it keeps the baby

calm. It also helps financially; you don’t have to think about buying formula,”

she said.

“[Breast milk] also helps with the

development of the brain. I see significant differences with my baby if I do a

comparison with my first child. This baby is more active, he is more vibrant,

he has never been ill. He does not have any rashes or blemishes on his skin,”

she added.

Goodwill spoke passionately at the Western

Regional Health Authority’s (WRHA) breastfeeding symposium held recently at the

Montego Bay Convention Centre in St. James.

The event was aimed at heightening public

awareness of the importance of breastfeeding.

Goodwill admitted that, initially, she was

not enthused about breastfeeding, as several myths made her wary of the

practice.

These myths include that breastfeeding

causes sagging of the breasts and that breast milk alone was not sufficient to

nourish the baby.

However, after consultation with the St.

James Health Department, Goodwill felt more comfortable about breastfeeding.

“They gave me a proper introduction to

breastfeeding, and I tried it and I loved it, and once you love your baby, you

want to give your baby the best, which is the breast,” she said.

She noted that the support of family

members, including spouses, is important in ensuring that breastfeeding is

successful.

Goodwill is encouraging working mothers to

express and store their breast milk to ensure that even if they are not around,

their babies can still get the milk.

She is advising other mothers not to give

up, as the benefits a child gets from breastfeeding are worth the effort.

Regional Director of the WRHA, Errol

Greene, in a speech read by Medical Officer of Health for St. James, Dr. Marcia

Johnson Campbell, said that not only is breast milk the cost-effective way to

nourish the baby but the practice yields health benefits for infants and

mothers, as well as countries that support the habit.

“In fact, supporting breastfeeding is one

of the smartest investments countries can make for the well-being of citizens…

whether you are from a low-, middle- or high-income economic status. The

benefits include boosting educational attainment and increasing productivity,”

he said.

Greene noted that the breastfeeding rate in

the western region has declined and more robust measures are needed to improve

the numbers.

“The exclusive breastfeeding rates in 2018 were just about 51.5 per cent, which was a bit lower than 52.8 per cent in 2017. We have to employ new and varied strategies to improve these figures in the interest of public health,” he said.

For his part, Mayor of Montego Bay

Councillor Homer Davis, commended the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the

WRHA on the ongoing efforts to highlight the importance of breastfeeding.

“I appreciate that, as we bolster efforts

to promote breastfeeding, we are also actively addressing barriers, which

prevent mothers from engaging in this very beneficial practice. Apart from

helping a mother and child to bond, it is regarded as the best form of

nutrition for [babies],” he noted.

Mayor Davis encouraged persons to become

advocates for breastfeeding.

The WRHA’s breastfeeding symposium included

presentations on the nutritional requirements during pregnancy, nutritional

components of breastmilk, men’s role in breastfeeding, empowering breastfeeding

women in the workplace, and the baby-friendly hospital initiative.