Straits Times supplement, Mind Your Body, reported that,

"In Singapore, less than 1% of six-month old babies are breastfed exclusively." Breastfeeding is best feeding, Shefali Srinivas, 9th April 2008.

It further reports that, "The National Breastfeeding Survey done in 2001 showeed that 95% of Singaporean mothers attempt to breastfeed their babies...(but)... exclusive breastfeeding is not a common practice in Singapore."

I am not here to gloat over those who may have tried and failed in breastfeeding. Since I know that ironically while breastfeeding is a natural act, yet it is something that does not come naturally. It does not help that we have lost a generation, or two, to formula milk and so many of us do not have many breastfeeding knowledgeable women to turn to for help and support.

But it is sad that the common reasons given for not breastfeeding exclusively or for stopping breastfeeding are "insufficeint milk, sore nipples, engorgement, returning to work and the baby preferring formula milk."

It definitely does not need to be so, as Sister Kang Phaik Gaik, lactation consultant at Mount Alvernia Hospital says. The problem is that many women give up without seeking proper help. 

Proper help means seeking either professionally trained lactation consultants like Sister Kang or Doris Fok (handphone : 9638 7660) or Cynthia Pang at KKH or women who have breastfed successfully.

If you do seek advise from friends, do make sure they themselves have succeeded in breastfeeding. It is amazing the amount of advice women who have never breastfed or have failed in breastfeeding have to offer!

Personally, by the grace of God, I have managed to nurse all our 6 babies. All nursed exclusively (no water or solids) till they were at least 6 months old, with most preferring not to eat any solids till they were 8 to 12 months old. They were all very different and so lovely experiences that I am glad to be a part of.

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Posted by SAM

Wasn't this article sponsored by a milk powder company?

Posted by MamaLim

Unfortunately the series is sponsored by milk company.