{"id":838,"date":"2015-12-15T12:31:13","date_gmt":"2015-12-15T04:31:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/malaysianbfpc.org\/prisma2015\/?p=838"},"modified":"2015-12-15T12:38:00","modified_gmt":"2015-12-15T04:38:00","slug":"fighting-to-normalise-breastfeeding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/malaysianbfpc.org\/prisma2015\/fighting-to-normalise-breastfeeding\/","title":{"rendered":"Fighting to normalise breastfeeding"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"The<\/a>

The packed ballroom at Holiday Villa, Subang Jaya, during the PRISMA 2015 conference.<\/p><\/div>\n

By BRIGITTE ROZARIO<\/strong><\/div>\n

BREASTFEEDING is not an easy task, nor is it a simple issue. There are many challenges and issues faced in breastfeeding, from politics and law to dental development, postpartum blues, hormones, pain management, jaundice, birthing practices, tongue tie and weight gain.<\/p>\n

At the recent PRISMA 2015 conference, organised by the Malaysian Breastfeeding Peer Counsellor Association, held at the Holiday Villa in Subang Jaya, all of these topics and more were covered over just two days.<\/p>\n

There was also a half-day pre-convention where the topics of disaster relief work and how to support breastfeeding mothers under such situations were discussed.<\/p>\n

The turnout was fantastic \u2013 there were 150 participants for the pre-convention and 250 participants for the convention. About 60% were Ministry of Health staff \u2013 medical officers and specialists, nurses, and nutritionists\/dieticians from all over Malaysia, including Sabah and Sarawak.<\/p>\n

Besides the almost full-capacity ballroom, the enthusiasm of the presenters and the participants was overwhelming \u2013 a clear indication that breastfeeding is thriving in Malaysia.<\/p>\n

In her opening speech, convention director Dr Nadrah Arfizah Arifin spoke of the theme for the inuagural convention \u2013 \u201cEmbracing Your Role, Knitting Our Network, Normalising Breastfeeding\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn PRISMA 2015, we bring our local experts in lactation and introduce them to our lactation activist community and all who are searching for local breastfeeding experts.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe believe that this convention will serve as a platform to share and learn from the experts and individuals. This will allow us to meet new challenges together and enable us to move towards better breastfeeding support. I hope the convention will shape better practices in breastfeeding support,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

The convention, which was a great platform to share information and network, saw many of the prominent local breastfeeding advocates in attendance, including Datuk Dr Anwar Fazal, chairperson emeritus of the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), Nor Kamariah Mohamad Alwi, chairperson of the Malaysian Breastfeeding Peer Counsellor Association, Rita Rahayu Omar of Susuibu.com, Gina Yong, founder of The Breastfeeding Advocates Network (TBAN) and paediatrician Dr Koe Swee Lee.<\/p>\n

\"Lactation<\/a>

Lactation consultant Rita Rahayu Omar was one of the emcees during the conference. This working mum was joined by her son at the conference.<\/p><\/div>\n

Politics<\/b><\/p>\n

Datuk Dr Anwar, of WABA, in his keynote address, gave the participants a history lesson on breastfeeding in Malaysia and the world.<\/p>\n

Politics<\/b><\/p>\n

Datuk Dr Anwar, of WABA, in his keynote address, gave the participants a history lesson on breastfeeding in Malaysia and the world.<\/p>\n

\"Datuk<\/a>

Datuk Dr Anwar Fazal.<\/p><\/div>\n


\n<\/a>\u201cWe were one of the first countries to have a breastfeeding code. We were<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to all work together to make something much more happen in this country in terms of the structure of support, in terms of the code becoming the law, and community support systems. All the knowledge with regards to these matters is out there. The only thing lacking is the political will and the kinds of resources. It\u2019s not a problem of knowledge. It\u2019s a matter of getting it done and we can get it done,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

According to him, next year is the 25th<\/sup> anniversary of WABA and he is determined to set up a virtual breastfeeding museum in time for World Breastfeeding Week 2016.<\/p>\n

Tongue tie affects breastfeeding<\/b><\/p>\n

Paediatrician and much sought-after lactation consultant Dr Koe spoke on \u201cTongue Ties: When is it a Problem in Breastfeeding?\u201d at the conference.<\/p>\n

According to her, milk transfer from the breast occurs when negative pressure is created in the babies mouth with jaw dropping.<\/p>\n

\"Dr<\/a>

Dr Koe Swee Lee.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cWhen the baby drops the jaw, it creates negative pressure there and it transfers a bolus of milk from the milk ducts into the nipple. Then the tongue will have peristaltic movements to move the bolus of milk from the mother\u2019s nipple to the back of the baby\u2019s mouth. This is how suckling transfers milk from the mother to the baby.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn a tongue tie, the movement of the tongue is limited, peristaltic movement is limited and milk transfer is limited. The tongue is unable to draw the nipple into the mouth, resulting in nipple feeding.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe effect on the baby is that, breastfeeding is ineffective, milk may leak from the side of the mouth, there\u2019s poor weight gain, there\u2019s risk of supplementation, dehydration, hyperbilirubinaemia, hypernatraemia, risk of admission to hospital, and very soon there will be termination of breastfeeding.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe mother may express milk only and the mother will stop direct latching, if she is not aware that the baby has problems suckling due to tongue tie,\u201d explained Dr Koe.<\/p>\n

According to her, these are the effects of tongue tie on the mother:<\/p>\n