Love – starts from breastfeeding
Breast milk is the most natural food for babies. The longer babies are fed on breast milk, the greater the benefits for the health of mothers and babies.
According to the WHO's recommendations, babies should be exclusively breastfed in the first 6 months and with the introduction of nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods, continue to have breast milk until 2 years old or above.
Love – starts from breastfeeding
Lots of mothers know the benefits of breastfeeding. However, during the process, many a time they will encounter a lot of problems and queries. This may create a lot of stress. Some mothers may give the baby formula milk supplement and thus making breastfeeding even more difficult. Some mothers may even felt defeated. At this critical moment, it will do them a lot of good if they can get appropriate guidance and encouragement from people around them especially health professionals and family members!
The Family Health Service of Department of Health has published the new information booklet on breastfeeding --“Love – starts from breastfeeding” . Apart from the benefits with breastfeeding on the baby and mother, how to initiate breastfeeding right after birth and the proper breastfeeding methods, it also contains information such as when and how to express breast milk manually, storage of breast milk, common breastfeeding myths, nutritional advice for mums, how to assess breastfeeding by parents and ways that family members can support breastfeeding mothers. It is hoped that proper knowledge on breastfeeding can be instilled to readers, at the same time help mothers to breastfeed their babies successfully.
We have also developed a multimedia “Self Learning Kit on Breastfeeding for Health Professional” (CD-ROM) and a Breastfeeding Flipchart for health professionals to enable them to promote and support breastfeeding more effectively. All health professionals are welcome to get copies of these resources from Family Health Service.
Common myths on breastfeeding
“The colostrum is so little, I should give my baby formula milk supplement so that he won't be starved!” “I need to stop breastfeeding my baby when I return to work!” “If I want to breastfeed, I shouldn't take any medicines even if I'm sick!”
All these are common misconceptions on breastfeeding. Come on; let's find out the correct answers from chapter 7 of “Love – starts from breastfeeding”!
Facts you should know about formula milk feeding
Various vitamins and nutrients, such as DHA, probiotics etc., are added to most of the formula milk products to mimic breast milk. As these supplements are usually produced from cow's milk or other food sources, they are very different from breast milk in many aspects including structure, function and absorption. At present, there is not enough evidence to prove that these supplements can produce the exact functions as those in breast milk. (For details, you may refer to chapter 1 of “Love – starts from breastfeeding”.)
Hong Kong Code of Marketing of Breast milk Substitutes (“the Code”)
In June 2010, the Taskforce on Hong Kong Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes was set up to develop and promote the Code. The Code aims to provide voluntary guidelines to manufactures and distributors to prevent harmful marketing practices of infant formula companies. The Code also aims at protecting the right and safeguarding the health of children. Membership is drawn from representatives of community organizations, professional bodies, academic and government bureau & departments. The Code drafting process is expected to be completed in near future. Details will be announced and promoted to public afterwards.
Hot News
Great news! A free interactive parenting e-learning website “Parenting Made Easy” is successfully launched in June 2012!
This on-line platform allows caregivers and child-related professionals an all-time access to parenting information at their choice according to the developmental age of the children. It brings to the readers evidence-based and practical parenting knowledge and skills through numerous animations, videos, interactive games and hyperlinks. With simple clicks, readers will be able to get hold of parenting tips to enhance their confidence in childcare and child guidance so as to bring up healthy, happy and well-adjusted children.