Tips on Pumping Breastmilk

Worried about not producing enough milk stock for baby while you are at work?

Which pumps to choose? How long & frequent to pump?

Which breastpumps to choose ? How to increase milk production?

All these are common thoughts that goes through a breastfeeding mother’s mind.
Worry not mummies! Here are some tips to ease your breastfeeding journey.

How Long & Often to Pump?

1. A Quality Breastpump is able to remove on average 99.4% of available breastmilk
from breast within 5 minutes of commencing pumping.

2. After 15 minutes of pumping, only minimal volumes will be removed after that
time period.

3. So, time recommended to pump (per breast) is 5 to 15 minutes.

4. You are recommended to pump according to baby’s normal feeding schedule at
home (while baby is with you). Meaning, if baby usually feeds every 3 hours or
so, try to mimic that timing while you are at work & pump every 3 hours or so.

Which Breastpump To Use?

1. Breastpumps are based on individual preference as every mother has different
preferences, priorities, budget & lifestyles.

2. A double, electric breastpump is highly recommended because double pumping
(pumping both breasts at the same time) saves the mother time and has been
shown to result in higher milk output than when using a single breastpump
(pumping each breast seperately).

3. A breastpump which is lightweight, portable & comes with a handsfree kit will
ease mothers to pump. When mothers feel at ease to pump, most likely mothers
will pump consistently. CONSISTENCY of milk removal is very important because
the more milk is removed from the breast, the more milk will be produced.

What Else Can I do to Increase Breastmilk Output

While Pumping?

1. Massage breasts before & while using electric breastpump. Finish pumping
session with hand expression method. The average milk production increases
by 48% when combining breast massage & hand expression during pumping
sessions!

2. Look at baby’s photos or videos or sniff baby’s clothes while pumping. This can
increase oxytocin hormone (one of the main hormones in breastfeeding) & result
in better milk output.

3. Having some nutritious, yummy snacks OR comforting, warm drink during
pumping also helps mothers get energized & relaxed, hence helps to increase
oxytocin flow & result in better milk output.

Where Can I Get Quality & Affordable Breastpumps?

Check Out our Website www.evelove.com.my for range of breastpumps.

Where Can I Get Breastfeeding Support?

1. For Breastfeeding Consultation with Certified Lactation Counselor, you may
enquire for appointment via whatsapp 019.5005959 or click here for enquiry.

2. For Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Support, click here to find a Peer Counselor.

Does Mode of Birthing Have Any Effect on Breastfeeding?

Assalamualaikum/Greetings.
It's been quite a long hiatus since I wrote. Truly I love writing and I find it a source of therapy for myself while I share whatever little knowledge I gained during studying and consultation sessions with my clients.

As a Childbirth Educator and also a Lactation Counselor, this is a topic close to my heart. Does MODE OF BIRTHING actually has any impact on breastfeeding success? Let's have a little insight on this topic.

Firstly, I will briefly enlighten on the lactation physiology for a better understanding.

Very briefly focusing on lactogenesis, it is divided into 3 stages.

Stage 1: Begins during the second trimester of pregnancy & continues until about day 2-3 postpartum. During this period, the breast undergoes changes to prepare for lactation while the constituents of milk are already being manufactured and ready to be released under stimulation of prolactin after childbirth.

Stage 2: Begins during postpartum day 2 or 3. This is when a mother might feel a sensation of breast fullness or also known as "milk coming in".

Stage 3: This is the phase of maintainence of breastmilk secretion. This occurs during days 14 to day 30 of post partum. This is when mature milk is established. Prolactin and Oxytocin is essential for effective maintainence of milk supply, therefore frequent nursing and milk expression (if necessary) is essential during this period of time to ensure sufficient supply.

Note the changes in breastmilk with time

Onset of secretory activation (lactogenesis II) is an endocrine@hormonal function, while maintenance of lactation, lactogenesis III, is an autocrine@local function with the control located in each breast. 

With this in mind you will understand that mode of delivery will not affect the physiological onset of lactation. 

Type of Birth	Delayed Milk Onset
Spontaneous vaginal	16%
Assisted vaginal	42%
Scheduled cesarean	27%
Emergency cesarean	56%

                                         (Adapted from Dewey, 2003)1 



Note that the mode of delivery (vaginal vs cesarean) was not the cause of delayed lactogenesis. Only something that interferes with the proper functioning of the endocrine system will delay or inhibit secretory activation such as accidents at birthing for example, retention of a functional portion of the placenta that continues to secrete progesterone, or a hemorrhage severe enough to cause Sheehan's syndrome (pituitary gland necrosis). And so might stress.

   Below are some studies associating stress & delayed milk onset. 

High stress levels are correlated with high cortisol levels. Cortisol, in normal concentrations, is also necessary to initiate secretory activation (lactogenesis II) successfully, though what its role is isn't fully understood yet.

• The relationship between the birth experience and lactation performance of 40 women was explored. Stress hormones were measured in serum or plasma during pregnancy, parturition (cord and maternal blood), and lactation. The researchers found that markers of both fetal and maternal stress during labor and delivery were associated with delayed breast fullness.2


• Salivary cortisol levels were studied in women intrapartum and postpartum, to ascertain any link between them and the onset of lactation. Onset of lactation occurred later in women who had higher cortisol levels. Primiparous women had higher levels than multiparous women. They concluded that stress during labor and/or delivery is likely to be a significant risk factor for delayed onset of lactation.3


• Two mechanisms have been suggested to explain the link between delayed lactation and stress. Firstly, maternal stress seems to interfere with the release of oxytocin causing poor milk removal. Although milk removal is not necessary to trigger secretory activation, it may be related to the timing of onset of full milk production or the volume of milk produced. And secondly, a newborn who experienced stress during labor and delivery may be too weak or too sleepy to latch on and suckle effectively at the breast.4


• Cortisol levels were measured in the fetus and correlated with birthing circumstances. Umbilical vein cortisol was significantly elevated in association with spontaneous normal birthing, but highest for infants experiencing an instrumental delivery and lowest in infants delivered by elective cesarean section.5


• Cortisol levels fell significantly during the breastfeeding sessions on Day 2 postpartum and correlated with the duration of skin-to-skin contact before the onset of sucking. However, between mothers having received epidural analgesia, with and without oxytocin, cortisol levels differed significantly. The researchers noted that medical interventions in connection with birth influence the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis 2 days after birth.6

What about Caesarian Sections & Instrumental Vaginal Deliveries?

Women who have a cesarean section experience a significant delay in initiating breastfeeding compared with women giving birth vaginally, with or without instrumental assistance.7,8 One study showed that breastfeeding rates at 8 months weren't significantly different7 while another8 showed that cesarean delivery was associated with a lower breastfeeding rate at discharge and at follow-up at 7 days, 3 and 6 months of life. In a further population that has a high breastfeeding initiation and duration rate, cesarean section delivery was significantly related to earlier cessation of breastfeeding.9

A Hong Kong study followed a very large cohort and identified cesarean delivery as a risk factor for:10

• not initiating breastfeeding
• for breastfeeding for less than 1 month, and
• a significant hazard against breastfeeding duration.
• Assisted delivery with forceps or vacuum, although not associated with breastfeeding initiation, was a significant risk for reduced breastfeeding duration.

An interesting study investigated differences in the hormonal patterns of oxytocin, prolactin and cortisol between women delivered by emergency cesarean section or vaginally, and their relationship to the duration of breastfeeding. The researchers found that the mothers birthing vaginally had significantly more oxytocin pulses on Day 2 than the cesarean section mothers. Furthermore, the cesarean section women lacked a significant rise in prolactin levels at 20-30 min after the onset of breastfeeding. They were able to link the oxytocin pulsatility on Day 2 to the duration of exclusive breastfeeding.11

I have not touched on the intrapartum factors like ability to eat, drink, IV fluids commencement, mobility, analgesia with regards to breastfeeding; which I will do so in future posts, hopefully :-)

Maternal Commitment? In the end, this is the most important key to breastfeeding success!

Several authors(7,9,12) have demonstrated that maternal commitment and support by health care professionals are significant factors in the mother reaching her breastfeeding goal when obstetric factors are against it. Intervention is sometimes lifesaving, and sometimes we are in no position to prevent unnecessary intervention. Giving the neonate and mother as much skin-to-skin contact as possible, being patient and continuing to support the mother for as long as it takes are all important to assisting her to follow through with her commitment to breastfeeding. 

Of course, early preparation like attending breastfeeding and birthing classes during the antenatal period would help mothers be well prepared on birthing and breastfeeding, empower themselves with knowledge and ensure that they understand what is happening during the time of labour to avoid stress on themselves should anything unplanned happen along they way.

So, moral of the story, be it spontaneous vaginal delivery or caesarian section..empower yourselves with knowledge, understand what is going on with your body and should you need necessary interventions, understand the situation, think rationally, avoid grudge or holding on to emotional baggage..please avoid stress...and believe that you can breastfeed your baby!


References:

1. # Dewey KG et al. (2003) Risk factors for suboptimal infant breastfeeding behavior, delayed onset of lactation, and excess neonatal weight loss
2. # Chen DC et al. (1998) Stress during labor and delivery and early lactation performance
3. # Grajeda R et al. (2002) Stress during labor and delivery is associated with delayed onset of lactation among urban Guatemalan women
4. # Dewey KG (2001) Maternal and fetal stress are associated with impaired lactogenesis in humans
5. # Mears K et al. (2004) Fetal cortisol in relation to labour, intrapartum events and mode of delivery
6. # Handlin L et al. (2009) Effects of sucking and skin-to-skin contact on maternal ACTH and cortisol levels during the second day postpartum-influence of epidural analgesia and oxytocin in the perinatal period.
7. # Rowe-Murray HJ et al. (2002) Baby Friendly Hospital Practices: Cesarean Section is a Persistent Barrier to Early Initiation of Breastfeeding
8. # Zanardo V et al. (2010) Elective cesarean delivery: does it have a negative effect on breastfeeding?
9. # Shawky S et al. (2003) Maternal factors associated with the duration of breast feeding in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
10. # Leung GM et al. (2002) Breast-feeding and its relation to smoking and mode of delivery
11. # Nissen E et al. (1996) Different patterns of oxytocin, prolactin but not cortisol release during breastfeeding in women delivered by caesarean section or by the vaginal route
12. # Janke JR (1988) Breastfeeding duration following cesarean and vaginal births

Why is Direct Latching an Important Aspect of Breastfeeding?

Assalamualaikum/Greetings.
Its been a while since I've written an entry and I am pleased to do so tonight while my three angels are fast asleep. I have been having this entry in my mind for a while but really haven't had the time nor energy to write up. Thank God for tonight :-)

The reason for this post is recently there has been quite a number of mummies who texted me mentioning they have breastfeeding problems (mostly latching issues). Sadly, some have opted to give up direct latching and continue to exclusively pump without further attempting to consult a lactation counselor to correct the latch.

Really, why is direct breastfeeding important? Nowadays there are so many high technology quality breastpumps around, we can get away with exclusive pumping, can we?

Well the answer is, I am afraid that NOT ALWAYS can we get away with exclusive pumping.

That being said, I do understand when some mothers have to opt for exclusive pumping. I had the "privilege" to experience relactation for my 2nd daughter. We had all the issues with us, starting from premature (weak baby) & drowsy mother (from anti-hypertensive and painkillers) at birth..then baby having a posterior tongue tie (which was difficult to detect), leading to latching issues, nipple injuries, which then led to inefficient breastmilk emptying, fussy baby, and ended up with low milk supply & a very depressed ME. I gave up with breastfeeding when my daughter was 6 weeks old and started relactating when she was 3 months old. During that period, she was bottle fed with formula milk. As I started to relactate, I attempted using the SNS for her, but she furiously refused after multiple attempts, it really broke my heart to force her to latch so I opted for exclusive pumping for the sanity of me to ensure I was happy & baby got the breastmilk she needed.
With God's will, I managed to establish my milk supply when baby was 6 months old and believe it or not, she is now 3 years 11 months and still drinking expressed breastmilk :-)

Needless to say, I DO UNDERSTAND why sometimes Exclusive Pumping happens.

But, I would also love to educate mothers on why direct latching should be the norm and should be attempted first before you actually decide to exclusive pump (if you wish).

This post would be extremely long if I were to write the ALL the benefits of direct latching. Hence, I will just pick on the bits and pieces of imporant facts on why direct latching is so important.

1. Direct Latching allows Skin to Skin Contact which Promotes Bonding, Releases Oxytocin and Endorphins(Love & Happy Hormones).

Just sitting down or lying down, it really feels good to be able to hold your baby in your arms, eye to eye, talking to him or her..it really releases the stresses of life & you get to REST despite how busy the life surrounding you is. Really, it is such a blessing in disguise.!
You just have to sit or lie down and do nothing for that moment while breastfeeding. Just you, your baby and that lovely bonding moment.
It really will promote healthy emotional growth for your infant & ensure you get that boost of love and happy hormones which is good for your emotional health as well! (protects you againts developing post partum depression).
This is why Skin to Skin & Rooming in with baby is precious and much promoted afterbirth!

Human babies and mammals are born with an inbuilt pre-programming to search for and stay closely orally attached to the mother's biological nipple. 

Babies thumb-suck and dummy-suck when they are deprived of the mother's biological nipple.....If a newborn baby cannot have access to it's mother's nipple to love and for enjoyment, comfort and safety, then it is going to find the next best thing to 'love' and this is usually a thumb or a dummy.

Elsie Mobbs RN RM Bsc MStud Psychol PhD

2. Direct Latching Eases your Logistics with Baby :-)

Really mothers, I know how it feels to be stuck to a breastpump 8 times a day. Really its no fun. Especially the part where you have to wash the pump parts so many times a day.
Then imagine outings with your baby. You have to bring along baby, baby stuff (diapers, clothes change etc) and breastpump! Like really, Imagine having to have a pump break, with having to care for baby and then having to feed baby breastmilk using bottle then wash the pump and bottles! Trust me, it is a hassle (despite being such a BLESSING, that you still get to provide breastmilk for your child).

What about night feedings? Think of having to warm up EBM while you are half asleep with a hungry baby crying, then having to wash the bottle afterwards, then pump milk in the middle of the night, and then wash the breastpump parts afterwards. It is indeed challenging and tiring.
I truly admire exclusive pumping mothers for their patience and determination. I have been there and done that, and when I look back, I realize that I only was able to do that with God's will.

With my 3rd baby, Alhamdulillah I am privileged & blessed to be able to directly latch. So my outings are made to ease with just bringing my extra large handbagto put a few baby stuff and my baby in a carrier or sling. No fuss of bringing EBM, ice bricks, hot water, breastpumps, etc.



3. Maintaining Breastmilk Supply.

I have yet to come accross a study/research stating that direct latching is better to ensure your breastmilk supply is sustained longer compared to exclusive pumping.
That being said, logically, when holding baby in your arms, there is so much oxytocin and feelings of love flowing through the bloodstream right? As we know, oxytocin is the hormone essential for breastmilk excretion to happen. Frequent direct latching & loads of oxytocin boost will surely sustain your breastmilk supply right?
Of course using a good quality breastpump would also assist in maintaining breastmilk supply if we frequently empty our breasts with frequent pumping sessions.That being said, I'd choose to cuddle up with baby than being strapped to a pumping machine if I had the choice to do so!



4. Dental Outcomes of Breastfed Children

Babies who were direct latching has better dental outcomes in future as indicated by various studies, studies quoted below. This is because the oral muscles and jaw movements involved in breastfeeding and bottle feeding is very different.

SUCKING AT THE BREAST
Toungue moves forward.
Tip of nipple at junction of hard & soft palate.
Lips wide and flared open.

SUCKING AT THE BOTTLE
Toungue bunched upwards and backwards.
Nipple does not reach junction of hard & soft palate.
Lips not wide and flared open.

Predominant breastfeeding was associated with a lower prevalence of OB, OJ, and MSM, but pacifier use modified these associations. The same findings were noted between exclusive breastfeeding and OJ and between exclusive breastfeeding and crossbite. A lower prevalence of OB was found among children exposed to exclusive breastfeeding from 3 to 5.9 months (33%) and up to 6 months (44%) of age. Those who were exclusively breastfed from 3 to 5.9 months and up to 6 months of age exhibited 41% and 72% lower prevalence of MSM, respectively, than those who were never breastfed.

Exclusive Breastfeeding and Risk of Dental Malocclusion
Karen Glazer Peres et al.

Pediatrics, Volume 136, number 1, July 2015

The acts of breastfeeding and non-nutritive sucking demonstrate opposite effects on oral development. 

Anterior open bite is significantly associated with reduced breastfeeding duration:

• Prevalence of malocclusion was 31.9% in the non-breastfeeding group, 26% for breastfeeding less than 6 months, yet only 6.2% for 3-6 year old who had breastfed for longer than 12 months. 2
• A strong association between any type of non-nutritive sucking habits (on pacifier or thumb/finger) and the development of either anterior open bite, posterior cross-bite or overjet was found in children at average age of 5.9 years.
• Non-nutritive sucking activity, rather than the type of feeding in the first months of life, is the main risk factor for development of altered occlusion and open bite in deciduous dentition. However, children with non-nutritive sucking activity and artificially-fed had more than double the risk of posterior cross-bite. Breastfeeding has a protective effect against development of posterior cross-bite in deciduous dentition. 

1. # Romero CC et al. (2011) Breastfeeding and non-nutritive sucking patterns related to the prevalence of anterior open bite in primary dentition.
2. # Luzzi V et al. (2011) Malocclusions and non-nutritive sucking habits: a preliminary study.
3. # Viggiano D et al. (2004) Breast feeding, bottle feeding, and non-nutritive sucking; effects on occlusion in deciduous dentition

Dental caries

Bottle-feeding or failure to cease use of pacifier before teeth eruption disturbs teeth development. The development of dental caries has the following strong associations:

• pacifier use at 18 months
• prolonged bottle-feeding  and night time bottle-feeding 
• the use of bottle-fed sweet milk drinks and the use of pacifiers.Strep mutan and other caries-related micro-organisms are found in the mouths of children who use pacifiers and prolonged use of feeding bottles with sweetened milk.

1. Yonezu T et al. (2008) Longitudinal study on influence of prolonged non-nutritive sucking habits on dental caries in Japanese children from 1.5 to 3 years of age.
2. # Qadri G et al. (2012) Early childhood caries and feeding practices in kindergarten children.
3. # Mohebbi SZ et al. (2008) Feeding habits as determinants of early childhood caries in a population where prolonged breastfeeding is the norm.
4. # Tyagi R (2008) The prevalence of nursing caries in Davangere preschool children and its relationship with feeding practices and socioeconomic status of the family.
5. # Ersin NK et al. (2006) Association of maternal-child characteristics as a factor in early childhood caries and salivary bacterial counts

Mothers, I truly would suggest that we try our level best to direct latch, seek help if needed and obtain all the support we can before resorting to exclusively pumping.
Needless to say, I know how it feels to be in a situation where I had to exclusively pump. So if you decide to exclusively pump, do it so with pride and CONSISTENCY to ensure that your baby gets the breastmilk he/she deserves :-)

Lots of Love.

Adapted From: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7521750.stm

Diet 'can flavour mother's milk'

Breast milk varies in flavour Flavours in a nursing mother's snack can find their way into her breast milk within minutes, research suggests. A group of 18 women were asked to provide samples of breast milk before and after eating capsules containing various flavours. New Scientist magazine reported that banana could be detected for an hour after consumption, while menthol lasted for eight hours. Previous work suggests a breastfeeding mother's diet affects her baby's taste.  Breastfeeding may prepare the infant for flavour changes and new experiences when they start to eat solid foods  Dr Helene Hausner Copenhagen University Mothers are often concerned that their baby may be put off breastfeeding or become upset if they have eaten strongly flavoured food. But the research from the University of Copenhagen suggests that, in most cases, the taste will only change for a few hours at most. As well as the banana and menthol chemicals, they tested capsules containing liquorice and caraway seed chemicals, both of which peaked in concentration in breast milk on average two hours after consumption. The research, which originally appeared in the journal Physiology and Behavior, also found that the time it took for the flavours to arrive and disappear varied significantly between women. However, all the flavours had vanished by the eight hour mark. Developing tastes Dr Helene Hausner, who led the study, said that preliminary results suggested that a variety of flavours in breast milk could make the baby more accepting of new flavours. "Breastfeeding may prepare the infant for flavour changes and new experiences when they start to eat solid foods." She suggested that while non-citrus fruit flavours only fleetingly altered the flavour of breast milk, other chemicals, such as those in carrots or citrus fruits, might produce more change. She suggested that the same effect might be achieved by mothers using formula milk if they changed the brand now and again. Gill Rapley, a health visitor, researcher, and author, said that the findings were another reason why breastfeeding might help babies during weaning. She said that while parents tended to worry that something they ate might upset their baby's stomach rather than their tastebuds if passed through breastmilk, the results would be reassuring. "It's interesting to see just how quickly these flavours disappear from breast milk, and we will be able to tell mothers about this."

A Natural Protein in Breastmilk That Fights HIV

For decades, public health officials have puzzled over a surprising fact about HIV: Only about 10-20 percent of infants who are breastfed by infected mothers catch the virus. Tests show, though, that HIV is indeed present in breast milk, so these children are exposed to the virus multiple times daily for the first several months (or even years) of their lives.

Now, a group of scientists and doctors from Duke University has figured out why these babies don’t get infected. Human breast milk naturally contains a protein called Tenascin C that neutralizes HIV and, in most cases, prevents it from being passed from mother to child. Eventually, they say, the protein could potentially be valuable as an HIV-fighting tool for both infants and adults that are either HIV-positive or at risk of contracting the infection.

The research, published today in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, was inspired by previous work by other researchers showing that, both in tissue cultures and live mice, breast milk from HIV-negative mothers was naturally endowed with HIV-fighting properties. Scientists suggested that a few different proteins in the milk could potentially be responsible, but no one knew which one.

As part of the study, the researchers divided breast milk into smaller fractions made up of specific proteins via a number of filters—separating the proteins by size, electrical charge and other characteristics—and tested which of these fractions, when added to a tissue culture, prevented the cells from being infected by HIV. Eventually, using mass spectrometry, they found that one particular protein was present in all the HIV-resistant fractions but in none of the others: Tenascin C.

“The protein works by binding to the HIV envelope, and one of the interesting things is that we were even able to narrow down exactly where on the envelope it binds,” says Sallie Permar, the study’s lead author. Her team found that the protein binds to a crucial region on the virus’ envelope that normally locks onto a receptor called CCR5 on the outside of human T cells,allowing it to fuse its membrane with the cell’s. With the region covered up by Tenascin C, HIV’s normal route of attack is blocked, and the virus’ effectiveness is greatly diminished.

Still, the researchers say that other natural elements in milk might play a role in fighting HIV as well. “It’s clearly not the whole story, because we do have samples that have low amounts of this protein but still have HIV-neutralizing activity,” Permar says. ”So it may be acting in concert with other antiviral and antimicrobial factors in the milk.”

Whatever those other factors are, though, the finding vindicates recent changes to UN guidelines that recommend even HIV-positive mothers in resource-poor countries should breastfeed, if they’re taking anti-retroviral drugs to combat their own infection. That’s because—as statistics bear out—the immense nutritional and immune system-boosting benefits of breast milk outweigh the relatively small chance of transmitting HIV through breastfeeding. Tenascin C, it seems, is a big part of why that transmission rate is surprisingly low, and sufficient access to anti-retroviral drugs can help drive it even lower—as low as 2 percent.

The next steps, Permar says, are determining which area of Tenascin C is active in binding to HIV and whether it can effectively prevent transmission in a live animal, as opposed to a tissue culture. If it works, it could potentially be incorporated into an HIV drug with broader applications. Possible uses include giving it in a concentrated form to infants who can’t breastfeed or even administering it to those who do to increase their level or resistance. It’s even conceivable that it could someday be adapted to reduce the risk of HIV transmission in adults as well.

One immediate advantage, says Permar, is that “it’s like to be inherently safe, because it’s already a component for breast milk. It’s something babies eat everyday.” Other potential treatments, on the other hand, must be screened for toxicity.

Tenascin C’s presence in breast milk, though, prompts a deeper question: Why would milk naturally include a protein that battles HIV, a virus that evolved extremely recently in our evolutionary history, sometime in the early 20th century?

“I don’t think it’s in breast milk to combat HIV specifically, but there have been other, related infections that have passed through breastfeeding,” Permar says. “Our work has shown that Tenascin C’s activity isn’t specific to HIV, so we think it’s more of a broad-spectrum anti-microbial protein.”

In other words, Tenascin C is effective at combating a large variety of infections (perhaps related to its role in adults, where it holds various types of tissue together, necessitating receptors that can bind to a wide array of different cells). The fact that it happens to bind at just the right spot on HIV’s outer envelope so that it combats the virus’ transmission, as Permar puts it, is “a gift from evolution.”

Original article from: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/discovered-a-natural-protein-in-breast-milk-that-fights-hiv-3189537/?no-ist

Mother's Rights to Work, Worker's Rights to Motherhood

Assalamualaikum/Greetings!

On the 5th of June 2014, I had the chance to attend the Lactation Management Workshop at the 23rd Congress of Obstetrics & Gynaecology Society of Malaysia.
The Theme was: Mother's Rights to Work, Worker's Rights to Motherhood

I sincerely would love to share this information with women out there for you to know your rights as a breastfeeding mother.

The information which I am going to disclose here was presented at the congress and  is adapted from the following file. Do read it if you have the time to do so :-)

http://www.waba.org.my/whatwedo/womenandwork/pdf/02.pdf

Maternity protection at the workplace is a legal and social recognition of the contribution that women make by having babies. The International Labour Organization (ILO) first recognised the importance of maternity protection in 1919 in its third convention (C3). In 1952, a second ILO maternity protection convention was adopted (C103), and in 2000 a third.

During the 20th Century, most countries of the world have enacted maternity protection legislation at national level.

Seven Key Elements of Maternity Protection are:

1. Scope

    -Covers all employed women including those in atypical forms of dependent work (meaning those in part time, temporary work who have an employer).

2. Leave

    -Length of leave increase from 12 weeks to 14 weeks. (compulsory 6 weeks postnatal leave).

3. Benefits

    -Cash benefits of no less than 2/3 of salary.

    -Prenatal, childbirth and post-natal care and hospitalization 
where necessary.

4. Health Protection

    - protection for women and their babies from hazards in the workplace

   

5. Job Protection

   - Job protection and non-discrimination: holding a woman’s job or a job at the same level to which she can return after leave; forbidding discrimination on the grounds of maternity

6. Breastfeeding Breaks

   - A woman has the right to one or more daily paid breaks for breastfeeding or a daily reduction of working hours. 

7. Breastfeeding Facilities

   - a place where a worker can feed her baby or express her milk

The ultimate goal is to have these elements implemented as a minimum standard in national legislation on maternity protection. 

Do correct me if I am wrong, but currently in Malaysia, maternity protections has not reached the level of "LEGISLATION" yet. This is what we as Breastfeeding Advocates are currently aiming for and working towards it step by step.

Below are the comparisons of Maternity Leaves and practice of Breastfeeding Breaks in various countries:

So what are the ILO Recommendations for future Maternity Protection? (R191)

Below are some things Medical Proffessionals can help to assist in helping a working mother achieve successful breastfeeding: