http://www.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydetail.asp?fileid=20040229.E01

'Breast-feeding dads' help cut infant mortality 
Features - February 29, 2004 
Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The term "breast-feeding fathers" does not describe a new technology
enabling men to produce breast milk and then feed their babies.
Breast-feeding fathers are husbands who are aware of the importance of
breast milk -- the ultimate baby food -- and are getting involved in the
breast-feeding process. 
A study by the United States' Department of Pediatrics found that fathers
played a significant role in successful breast-feeding, meaning the good
production and "distribution" of breast milk. 
Its study of 115 postpartum mothers found that of those women whose husbands
were not involved in the breast-feeding process, only 26.9 percent had no
trouble breast-feeding. 
For those women whose husbands were involved in the process, the percentage
of success was 98.1 percent. 
According to pediatrician Utami Roesli from the Indonesian Lactation Center,
breast milk is produced by a hormone called oxytocyn, or the "love hormone".

"This hormone can be stimulated with positive thoughts and affection," she
said at a recent discussion. 
Unfortunately, many postpartum mothers have experiences that hamper the
production and distribution of breast milk, like stress, anxiety and
feelings of embarrassment about breast-feeding because they live with their
in-laws. 
Even the slightest negative thought, according to Utami, will hamper the
production and distribution of breast milk. "When mothers are afraid of not
producing enough breast milk, then their fears will come true." 
The prevalence of mothers in the world who cannot produce breast milk is
only one out of every 1,000 mothers, she said. If more mothers have
difficulty in breast-feeding, it is more likely because of psychological
problems. 
Another factor is what Utami called "nipple confusion", or a baby's
inability to suckle correctly because it is separated from its mother after
delivery. 
Utami showed a video of a newborn baby who was put on its mother's stomach
and immediately crawled to her mother's breast to suckle. 
"This is called the primitive crawling reflex and every newborn baby has it,
except for those who are separated from their mothers for more than 30
minutes after the delivery," Utami said. 
In such cases, breast milk production may be sufficient but it is not being
distributed well. However, breast milk production is based on the principle
of supply and demand -- no new milk will be produced if there is still
enough of a supply. 
With so many factors contributing to the success or failure of the
breast-feeding process, fathers should understand and play more of a role in
the breast-feeding process. 
For instance, fathers can help by taking care of the baby, doing household
chores and other tasks to help out their wives and create a more comfortable
and peaceful atmosphere at home. 
As a father carries the baby to its mother to be fed, helps change its
diapers, sings to his child and massages the mother and the baby -- oxytocyn
will disperse and breast milk will overflow. 
The role of fathers is so significant that Michigan State University has
recommended breast milk education for fathers and families. 
In Australia and the United States, fathers are eligible for two-week
paternity leave, while Sweden offers one-year paternity leave at 80 percent
of their salary. 
In Indonesia, paternity leave is nonexistent, while the advantages of
successful breast-feeding are, perhaps, far beyond what most fathers could
imagine. 
For postpartum mothers, breast-feeding will reduce postpartum hemorrhaging
and anemia, works as birth control, helps sex organs and body weight return
to normal faster, and it is also economical and saves time. 
As for fathers, they will have healthier babies and wives, and
breast-feeding also reduces the household budget. 
Most importantly, a greater awareness of breast-feeding can help lower the
infant mortality rate, which is now at a staggering 51 babies per 1,000
births -- meaning over 140,000 babies aged less than one week die each year,
or about 2,690 per week. 
"We're one of the worst in Southeast Asia (in terms of infant mortality);
very embarrassing. A baby dies every 7.5 minutes, most of them aged less
than 30 days," Utami said. 
The main killers of babies are premature births and being underweight at
birth, as well as respiratory infections and diarrhea. 
"Many of them are malnourished, therefore breast milk is very essential.
It's cheap and portable, but the advantages are very high," Utami said. 
It takes a village, as they say, to raise a child. But apparently, it only
takes an aware father to bring up a healthy child. 

Judy Ritchie

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