"Feed" love persistence! Promote the "return" of breastfeeding

The World Health Organization has issued a clear message: Breastfeeding can reduce child mortality, and its health benefits can continue into adulthood. Is breastfeeding only beneficial to the baby, or does it also benefit the mother? Many questions about breastfeeding linger in the minds of many expectant mothers and new mothers.

Breast milk is the baby's first vaccine

"Breastfeeding can enhance immunity, improve intelligence, reduce the occurrence of sudden infant death syndrome, reduce childhood obesity, and reduce the probability of allergic diseases." Shi Wei, deputy director and chief physician of the Critical Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Henan Province, said that the World Health Organization believes that the health benefits of breastfeeding can continue into adulthood.

"Breast milk is available at any time, which is very convenient and very suitable for babies who need to eat small meals frequently. In addition, breast milk is kept at a constant temperature and does not need to be heated. There is no need to worry about burns or cold temperatures. It is the best food for feeding babies." Shi Wei said that it is safe, clean, non-toxic, and has no side effects. It is a "safe granary" that new mothers all over the world are born with to provide for their babies.

Zhou Junxian, a nurse at Henan Provincial Maternal and Child Health Hospital and a lactation consultant at Aiying Hospital, believes that the period from the mother's pregnancy to the baby's 2-year-old is the first 1,000 days of life, which is defined by the World Health Organization as a "critical window period" for a person's growth and development. Scientific feeding and ensuring good nutrition for the baby during this stage are conducive to the good development of the baby's physique, intelligence, and immune system, and reduce the risk of various chronic diseases in adulthood and beyond. If you miss this opportunity window of 1,000 days in the early life, it will be difficult to achieve this effect.

"Breastfeeding can avoid adverse effects in early life and protect long-term health, and is considered one of the most important health investments for a baby." Zhou Junxian said that breast milk is not only beneficial to the healthy growth of infants and good for the recovery of new mothers, but also has lower costs and is more economical than other feeding products.

Zhou Junxian said that the baby's sucking can promote the mother's secretion of oxytocin, promote uterine contraction, reduce postpartum bleeding, and speed up postpartum recovery.

"Breastfeeding allows mothers to consume an additional 500 kcal of energy per day, which helps to consume fat accumulated during pregnancy and promote body recovery." Zhou Junxian said that breastfeeding can also reduce the mother's risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer; reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension; successful breastfeeding will enhance the mother's self-confidence and reduce the risk of postpartum anxiety and depression.

In addition, breastfeeding can enhance parent-child interaction and promote the formation of parent-child relationships. Of course, it can also reduce the family's financial pressure and there is no need to buy milk powder.

Breast milk is rich in nutrients and is best for feeding until 2 years old

Is there a time limit for breastfeeding? In Shi Wei's opinion, breast milk is an important source of nutrition that is indispensable for the healthy growth of babies. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that infants should be fully breastfed for the first 6 months of life, that is, only consume breast milk. After the baby is six months old, complementary foods can be added and breastfeeding can continue until the age of 2 years or longer.

"Some mothers may wonder whether breast milk becomes less nutritious as the baby grows older." Shi Wei further explained that, in fact, breast milk is the first natural food for babies. It provides the energy and nutrients needed for babies in the first few months after birth. From 6 months to 1 year old, breast milk also meets half or more of the baby's nutritional needs. In the year when the baby is 2 years old, breast milk can provide one-third of the nutrition.

So, what labor protection and employment rights do working women have? Li Hongcan, director of the Labor and Social Security Supervision Bureau of the Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security, believes that women have many social roles, the greatest of which is the role of mothers who give birth to new lives. Therefore, female employees have pregnancy, delivery, and breastfeeding periods, and enjoy corresponding rights and interests during these "three periods".

It is worth noting that Article 48, Paragraph 1 of the "Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Women's Rights and Interests (Revised in 2022)" clearly stipulates that employers shall not reduce the wages and welfare benefits of female employees due to marriage, pregnancy, maternity leave, breastfeeding, etc., restrict the promotion, promotion, evaluation and appointment of professional and technical titles and positions of female employees, dismiss female employees, or unilaterally terminate labor (employment) contracts or service agreements.

During the online call, Li Hongcan also responded to the hot social phenomenon of "hiring a job during pregnancy and leaving after maternity leave". He believes that female employees who join the company during pregnancy also enjoy all labor rights and interests stipulated by law.

"Although for employers, the input and contribution of newly hired employees during pregnancy may be relatively limited, this cannot be a reason for employers to infringe on the legitimate rights and interests of employees." Li Hongcan suggested that women should fully consider their own career plans or family situations, carefully consider many aspects, and properly communicate with employers, complete work handovers in advance, and properly handle the matter through reasonable communication and consultation.

Breastfeeding requires encouragement and support from family members

As women's dual roles of family and work become more and more common, how to make working mothers "willing to breastfeed, able to breastfeed, and convenient to breastfeed" while balancing work and family has become a problem that has attracted much attention from today's society and the general public.

Zhang Mengwei, executive deputy director of the Office of the Provincial Government Women and Children Working Committee, believes that the responsibility of breastfeeding cannot be pushed to new mothers alone. The spouse's attitude towards breastfeeding is of great significance, which is very important in promoting population development, family building, and fertility support. It is also inseparable from the support of the family and the whole society. To this end, it is necessary to establish a working mechanism led by the government, coordinated by departments, and participated by the whole society.

"In order to 'support breastfeeding and build child-friendly', the Office of the Women and Children's Working Committee of the Provincial Government will integrate the breastfeeding action plan into the implementation of the Henan Provincial Child Development Plan and the construction of child-friendly cities, as the key content of the 'two outlines' demonstration counties (districts), and will strengthen the construction of mother-and-child rooms in public places, popularize children's nutrition knowledge, etc. as important contents for selecting child-friendly pilot cities, compiling relevant guidelines for the construction of child-friendly cities, and investigating and guiding the construction of various places." Zhang Mengwei said that as of now, our province has mother-and-child rooms in public places such as high-speed rail stations, airports, and shopping malls to meet the feeding needs of mothers. Zhengzhou, Hebi, and Luoyang have developed rapidly in the construction of maternal and child facilities and other children's work, and have been selected as national child-friendly pilot cities.

In addition to physical construction, the Office of the Women and Children's Work Committee of the Provincial Government focuses on the "Action Plan to Promote Breastfeeding", coordinates and promotes relevant member units to disseminate breastfeeding health knowledge in a diversified manner, and brings the concept of "breastfeeding is irreplaceable" into thousands of households.

Zhang Mengwei admitted that promoting breastfeeding is not the job of one person or one department. It requires concerted efforts and multiple measures to create a good social environment that cares for breastfeeding mothers. Taking food safety and the construction of maternal and infant rooms as an example, in 2023, the province checked 510,000 infant food sellers, found 14,000 risk problems, and completed the disposal rate of 100%; 323 labor union love maternal and infant rooms were newly built, renovated and expanded throughout the year. As of the beginning of this year, there were more than 1,700 labor union love maternal and infant rooms in the province, which effectively guaranteed the implementation of breastfeeding actions.

Breastfeeding requires participation from the whole society

"In my country, people often say, 'Nothing is worse than mother's milk.' Breastfeeding can not only promote the normal growth and development of infants, reduce the probability of diarrhea, respiratory diseases and skin infections, but also reduce the risk of chronic diseases in adulthood." Fan Yingge, director of the Maternal and Child Health Department of the Henan Provincial Health Commission, said that the importance of breastfeeding makes protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding a common responsibility of the whole society, a long-term and arduous task that requires the joint efforts of all sectors of society.

Fan Yingge said that in November 2021, the National Health Commission and 15 other departments jointly issued the "Action Plan to Promote Breastfeeding (2021-2025)", which promoted the formation of a breastfeeding promotion work mechanism led by the government, coordinated by departments, and participated by the whole society. Just as the theme of the 33rd World Breastfeeding Week from August 1 to 7 this year said, "Support breastfeeding and build fertility friendliness."

"We in Henan have been taking action to support breastfeeding and build a fertility-friendly environment." Fan Yingge said that in the next step, we will focus on the theme of "supporting breastfeeding and building a fertility-friendly environment", continue to work hard in strengthening the promotion of relevant popular science knowledge, strengthening consulting and guidance services, and strengthening the construction of a supporting environment. We will continue to strengthen unity and cooperation, jointly promote breastfeeding, and give the right to breastfeeding to every baby as the first gift when they come to this world, and contribute greater strength to cultivating healthy children and building a healthy Henan.

Shi Wei suggested that after taking maternity leave, mothers should adjust their work and rest schedules 1 to 2 weeks before going back to work to synchronize with the baby's feeding time, practice using a breast pump, milk storage bags, etc., and understand the facilities at the workplace, such as whether there is a refrigerator, a lounge, etc.

"It is important to note that mothers need to express milk every 3 to 4 hours to maintain the milk supply." Shi Wei said that before expressing milk, mothers can drink a glass of warm water, take deep breaths and do proper nipple massage to stimulate milk flow. Expressed breast milk should be stored properly and should be consumed within 24 hours. Excess can be frozen.