Breastfeeding rates in Hong Kong?

[Slee]

Graham, I too was very suprised by what I experienced in the wards. We went to the Tsan Yuk anti-natal classes and a whole session was dedicated to promoting and explaining breastfeeding. We were also all told that a lactation consultant would help us while in hospital. I couldn't believe it once I saw what the other mums were doing in hospital. They weren't even giving it a go! It's one thing not succeeding, but not even attempting to give even just a few days of colostrum dumbfounded me!

As for offering a first-time mum support, I asked to hold my daughter as soon as she was born and dried off so that she could latch on during the first half hour - a proven way of getting breastfeeding off to a good start. The midwife said 'no'. Luckily my OB was there and said something to the midwife in Cantonese, who then said 'Oh, OK then, but only quickly'. The labour and birth had gone fine, my baby's APGARs were 9 and 10 so there was no reason not to! Very strange.

It was a struggle trying to get things going on my own in a crowded room surrounded by noise and having a little old lady wave bottles through the curtain every few hours wasn't at all encouraging! Finally, I never saw the famous but elusive lactation consultant and as there was no one else that I could see breastfeeding I don't know where she was!

 

[Joyce]

It seems that we all have varying experiences of wards and b/f. For me personally, I found the nurses at Queen Mary very supportive and that the Lactation Consultant was excellent.

I must admit that b/f facilities in Hong Kong could definitely be improved. I managed to b/f for 11 months but had to be rather creative when it came to looking for places to feed my baby when we were out!

 

[HKFooey]

My son is now 10 mths and I am very pleased to say has never tasted formula even though I went back to work when he was 15 weeks. I still express three times per day at work which is a bit of a bind but I would not have it any other way.

I am very lucky to be able to say that I have had no bad experiences with breastfeeding in HK. I am reasonably discrete but I feed my son wherever and whenever I need to. One of my favourite places these days is Pacific Coffee.

Nobody has ever given me any indication that they have any problem with me feeding my son.

I realise that I have been fortunate and I try and encourage other mums as best I can. I also think it is important for breastfeeding mothers to be discrete but not to hide away. It is good for the general public to see that people breastfeed.

I also think that it is good that the Government has been proactive. I feel that even if the statistics are slightly biased it might help people to realise that breastfeeding is a viable option and more and more people are doing it.

 

[LLL_Sarah]

August 1st to 7th is World Breastfeeding Week. Traditionally the Baby Friendly Hospital Imitative in Hong Kong (BFHIHKA) publishes their hospital survey results this week. Last Saturday they held a press conference and the numbers they published were:

61.1 % of new mothers are breastfeeding when they leave hospital. This figure includes mothers who are supplementing with water and /or formula as well as breastfeeding.
(In Hong Kong mothers usually leave hospital between 2 days and 7 days after the birth.)

36% were exclusively breastfeeding when they left hospital. (Exclusive breastfeeding means that the infant receives only breast milk, from his or her mother or expressed breast milk, and no other foods or drinks with the exception of drops or syrups consisting of vitamins, mineral supplements, or medicines.)

Figures were also given from the Department of Health?s survey:

66.6% - ever breastfeed ? a new mother is included in this even if she only put the baby to the breast once.

Among these 12.4% continued to exclusively breastfeed for over 4 months. (That is 8.26% of all new mothers.)

The main reasons for stopping are:

?not having enough milk? = 37%

?back to work? = 26%

I started breastfeeding in Hong Kong over 17 years ago. The attitude of both the general public and the medical staff has greatly improved in this time. Although there is still work to be done the change over the last 15 years is remarkable.

One problem that the government is currently trying to address is that often mothers think that they have no milk during the first days until the milk has ?come in?. This couldn?t be further from the truth.

New mothers have colostrum from before the baby is born until the transitional milk comes (usually around day 4 or 5). The mature milk comes around the 2-week mark. Colostrum, also called the Golden Fluid, is highly treasured for its nutritional and protective properties. Its unique texture and small volume is designed to coat the baby?s delicate digestive system with antibodies. Therefore, babies require frequent nursings to obtain the much-needed small quantity of colostrums.

SARAH

 

[jane01]

Wow Sarah - you are a fountain of information, thank you.

If I understand your figures correctly, 33% of HK women have never breastfed, not once, not even given it a try. So therefore, "going back to work" and "not enough milk" aren't really the reason why they aren't doing it, even for (as you point out) the important colostrum.

I'm really curious why a mother wouldn't at least try it. OK, if it doesn't work for you and your baby, fair enough. If you have to go back to work in 6 weeks, good on you for doing it for 6 weeks (totally understand not wanting to pump in the toilets which is the only option in most workplaces). But to not try at all, that seems a bit strange to me.

I would imagine that some women would have medical problems, for example from a difficult birth, but surely this would be a very small percentage?

I agree that HK is progressing well. I'm just curious to understand why someone wouldn't try at all?

 

[hkgirl]

I gave birth at Queen Elizabeth and the nurses were very helpful right after the birth to help my baby latch on. Also, a lactation specialist came to my bed for personal help when I needed it. I guess it depends on the hospital and who is working at the time. I have heard that the local hospitals promote breastfeeding more than the private. I assume that is because many woman going to the private will be returning to work soon and pumping during the day is a very big commitment.

I have found that breastfeeding in Hong Kong has been a little uncomfortable. I've received many dirty looks from people even though I'm totally covered up with a blanket and there are very few places with couches/sofas to nurse on. During our time in Canada and the US this summer I had the opposite reaction. Many woman approached me to say how glad they were to see young mothers nursing and how it's so wonderful for bonding etc.

Breastfeeding is painful to start and doesn't seem to get into a regular routine for a few months so I can understand why some women quit, but I'm glad I continued as it's the most relaxing way to bond with your baby, not to mention the benefits to baby and mom's health and your bank account!

Anyway, the 10% figure sounds more accurate than 60% to me and I agree that statistics are very often skewed and should not be trusted.

 

[wandasmart]

i had a very complicated delivery but luckily, my milk came in quite early on. i'v now breastfed for 3 months and still going at it and though at first i found that it was uncomfortable to breastfeed in public (in fact, the first month to month and a half, i shyed away from going out too much) i think it was more my own self consciousness. Now, i feel - why should i worry about what people think? unless i'm actually told off by someone say a waitor or park staff (which is pretty rude anyways i think!) i will just feed anywhere i can sit down. i'v come to the opinion that if people take offence to it, don't they have the brains to look in another direction so they don't see me? if i see a dead rat on the street and i'm uncomfortable i don't keep staring at it, i turn my head away right away. i don't even notice the stares anymore coz i just keep talking to my own group of friends.

i agree that hk is good in promoting breastfeeding. i delivered at the matilda and from the time of birth and even until now, the support groups for breastfeeding is phenomenal. i can't say that i have heard that same for back in Canada. I think it's an individual decision and moms must choose what is best for both the baby and for herself as well. but 60% does sound high to me given the number of people i know who just went straight to formula or gave up after a week or 2 because it is much more convenient to not b/feed.

 

[LLL_Sarah]

Please remember that the 60% is breastfeeding at discharge from hospital. So the mothers who gave up after a week or 2 because it is much more convenient to not breastfeed are included in that figure.
SARAH

 

[mum]

I gave birth in Queen Mary and found that the staff were extremely supportive of my desire to breastfeed. my daughter was in special care for 24 hours and i was unable to visit her. In my hormonal state i was convinced that they would have been feeding her formula against my wishes but, once i was able to visit her, i found her cot covered in bilingual signs saying "breastfeeding -no bottles!". I was also sure that breastfeeding would be difficult to establish (having read so much about the need to feed immediately after delivery etc) but we managed fine.
I have breastfed both of my children for about 12 months each. I rarely use nursing rooms as I prefer not to have to hide away in order to feed my baby, especially now that I also have a toddler in tow. If I meet my husband for lunch I don't want to have to go and sit in a toilet, however nice, for and hour or so. Having said that, I would like to think that I am always very discrete and I am sure that most people wouldn't know that I was feeding. I agree that it would be better if people became more accustomed to the fact that breastfeeding happens. I have never had any negative comments when breastfeeding in public. If I had I would have to say that I am equally offended when I see a tiny newborn being bottle fed, but it is none of my business so I would never dream of commenting.