The profile of mothers in Spain shows us every time more elderly mothers and fully incorporated into the labor market. These characteristics make maternity acquire certain peculiarities in relation to maternal health and breastfeeding.
Regarding breastfeeding, the fact that mothers have to join work after only four months causes the majority of mothers who breastfeed their children to stop breastfeeding. The figures say that nine out of ten women start breastfeeding their child as soon as they give birth, but after six months only 40% of babies continue to feed on breast milk.
In Norway, the period of breastfeeding is extended until the child's first year, coinciding with the maternity leave, of the same duration. For this reason, a period of maternity leave of at least six months has been claimed for a long time, as long as the WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the baby.
This and other topics were discussed two days ago at a meeting of experts at the University of Alicante, about research and innovation in breastfeeding, promoted by the Faculty of Health Sciences: Meeting of research groups on quality and innovation for the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding.
They discussed how to protect, promote and support breastfeeding, and a study prepared by the Hospital of Dénia was presented, which shows that in the case of children who receive breast milk up to four months, the hospital admissions for infections.
Health benefits, which translate into economic savings, because babies visit less primary care centers and hospitals, with the resulting savings.
Measures to extend breastfeeding
Even with all these benefits, as we have seen, breastfeeding rates decrease over time. The work motive is one of the main reasons why breastfeeding is abandoned before six months. Thus extend the period of maternity leave It is essential, as well as facilitating the return to work of recent mothers.
The assembled experts ask that other measures be put in place, such as attending the women's health center two days after being discharged to answer your questions.
Also in the hospital environment, improvements are also needed, such as trying to bottle feed only when necessary, avoiding separation of the mother and the baby after giving birth or eliminating contradictory messages between medical staff, something difficult to understand but that many of us have lived in first person.
Specialists also ask that health centers have support staff trained in breastfeeding promotion. And it is shown that the interventions aimed at promoting and maintaining breastfeeding They are effective if performed before and after birth, also with support from non-health personnel.
