Though breastfeeding is accepted and encouraged in the country, there still is a certain level of stigma around the topic.
Abu Dhabi - Breastfeeding week begins, breast milk provides the most natural food a mother can give her baby
Published: Mon 1 Aug 2016, 8:03 PM
World Breastfeeding Week began today and will run until August 7 in the UAE and around the world. The movement encourages and gives awareness on the importance of health and wellbeing right from childbirth.
The week also aims to show support to mothers of infants by providing an immense amount of education, while purging any stigmatism regarding breastfeeding in public spaces.
The official Breastfeeding Week website, which is coordinated by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), highlights its key objectives and purpose.
The goals highlight how vital it is to "inform people about the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how they relate to breastfeeding." Moreover, the week aims to cover the importance of "firmly anchoring breastfeeding as a key component of sustainable development," and "to galvanise a variety of actions at all levels of breastfeeding," as well as encouraging and promoting the "protection and support of breastfeeding."
UAE supports mums and mums-to-be
UAE hospitals and doctors are also encouraging the health campaign. Medeor 24x7 in the Capital is launching free consultation by Obstetrics and Gynecology experts, free questions and answer sessions from medical experts for mothers who are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, educational inputs on the importance of breastfeeding, and even free yoga for expecting mother by certified professionals.
Although breastfeeding provides the most natural food a mother can give to her baby, doctors believe there is still a certain lack of awareness on how crucial it is for mothers to continue breastfeeding their child until the age of two.
While breastfeeding is widely accepted and encouraged in the country, there still lays a certain level of stigmatism around the topic. Furthermore, law in the UAE does not prevent women from nursing in public; in fact, the nation encourages the natural habit of a mother feeding her child.
Furthermore, under UAE's law, as well as in Islam, mothers should breastfeed their children up to the age of two.
Although new mothers are only given 45 days of paid maternity leave, they are still provided with an hour off work (for 18 months), to go home and breastfeed.
Moreover, for mothers who feel uncomfortable nursing in public or are afraid of making others feel uncomfortable, there are breastfeeding private rooms designated in public places, including shopping malls and restaurants.
Speaking to Khaleej Times, N N, who recently gave birth to her third child, said she feels overwhelmingly uncomfortable breastfeeding her newborn in public, and thus opts for the private rooms if her baby feels hungry when she is out and about.
"I know that mothers can freely breastfeed their babies in public as long as they are not too exposed, and I think it's great having that freedom of choice."
"But for me, breastfeeding is a bond and a moment in time that a mother shares only with her baby. It is a special and natural bond between the two.
"The bond is not between the mother, the baby and the public's watchful eyes," she added.
However, not all mothers feel uncomfortable about breastfeeding in public.
Emily Keating, said that she is comfortable to feed her baby in public, as long as the weather is not too hot.
"I'm quite laid back and happily put my baby on a table at a restaurant to feed her under my cover."
"It has been really easy and completely stress free," she added.
Breastfeeding Vs formula
Dr Jwan Mansoor, Specialist Obstetrician and Gynecologist at Emirates Hospital, told Khaleej Times that the breast milk's nutrients are "the greatest gift you can give your baby."
"Breast milk contains nutrients and antibodies your baby needs to help grow and fight against disease and infections in the early stages of life, while the immune system is developing."
She pointed out that the natural milk is easier for the baby to digest, rather than infant formula milk.
"In some studies, babies had higher IQ scores in childhood and gained the right amount of weight as they grow, rather than become overweight."
Not only that, but she also noted that breastfeeding is equally beneficial for the mother's wellbeing, as it not only triggers a loss in pregnancy weight, but it also helps the uterus return to its pre-pregnancy size, as well as helping lower the risk of breast and ovarian cancers.
Dr Mervat Hashem, Consultant, Neonatology Head of the Pediatrics Department at Universal Hospital, also pointed out the immense beneficial factors of breastfeeding.
"Breast feeding is important because it's an easy, affordable and kind way to feed your child."
She noted that formula is not as safe as mothers might think. "Formula is not only expensive, but it can be contaminated."
"Babies who rely on formula could develop diarrhea, ear infections, eczema and other common infections."
She pointed out that breastfeeding also creates hormones that help the evolution of the mother's uterus, while protecting her from breast cancer.
Regarding breastfeeding in public, Dr Hashem said although stigmatism surrounds women doing so in public are often due to cultural or social norms, breastfeeding itself is highly encouraged in UAE. In fact, many hospitals are "baby friendly" and only allow breastfeeding, instead of formula.
"We don't allow formula feeding unless it is under special medical circumstances that can not be overcome.
"Many mothers feel uncomfortable to breastfeed in public, especially in Muslim countries. As a culture, it is not something that is always easy to see or accept by everyone," Dr Hashem added.
However, she noted that mothers should ignore the stigmatism and look at the support around them and continue to breastfeed their children until the age of two, instead of rely on formula.
"There are private places just about everywhere for women to feed their babies comfortably in the country."
Dr Hashem urged that it is the psychological bond between a mother and child that needs to be understood, appreciated and respected by all.
jasmine@khaleejtimes.com
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