Baby Friendly Hospital
Dear Parents,
Breastfeeding is the most natural right of every baby. Any act that prevents a baby from breastfeeding when there is no medical problem is child abuse. We are trying to do our best to protect breast milk, and to ensure that our children grow up healthier. We know that a healthy child means a healthy future.
Why do we care so much about breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding relaxes and soothes the baby, reduces pain, and helps the baby fall asleep more quickly. In studies, the analgesic effect of breastfeeding in the first six months was found to be effective during vaccination and the analgesic effect of breastfeeding was found to be similar to the use of local analgesics (1).
Breastfeeding in the first 6 months has been shown to reduce otitis media by 43%, especially in the first 2 years.
There are fewer bite disorders in the jaw and teeth. Breastfeeding protects against dental caries up to 12 months. After 12 months, it is thought that daily sugar intake or oral hygiene may cause dental caries (2).
It has been observed that children who are breastfed are more successful in intelligence tests and school life at an advanced age. It has also been observed that the IQ or EQ reached in adulthood is higher as the total duration of breastfeeding increases (3).
Breastfeeding has been reported to play an important role in neuro-motor development. As the duration of breastfeeding increases, the hyperactivity score at the age of four decreases. Social ability score increases (4).
The risk of overweight/obesity and Type 2 diabetes in later life and adulthood is lower. Studies have shown that breast milk significantly reduces the incidence of overweight and that prolonged breastfeeding is the MOST IMPORTANT PROTECTIVE FACTOR AGAINST OBESITY IN CHILDREN (5)
Recent advances have added a new dimension to the many potential benefits of breastfeeding, showing that breast milk contains stem cells. Recent analyses have revealed that non-immune cells contain the majority of cellular fractions in healthy mother/infant pairs. By utilizing stem cells in breast milk, new tools for the treatment of infant diseases could be developed.
Breastfeeding also provides very important benefits to the mother
There is a 30% reduction in the risk of ovarian cancer with prolonged breastfeeding, and the risk of developing breast cancer decreases as the duration of breastfeeding increases (6).
A study of 740 000 women showed the positive effect of breastfeeding on the mother's body mass index.
Breastfeeding has important psychological benefits for the baby and the mother. Close contact immediately after birth facilitates a close and loving relationship between mother and baby. This process is called bonding. Babies cry less and develop faster if they are placed with their mother and breastfed immediately after birth. Breastfeeding mothers are also more affectionate and less likely to abandon or abuse their babies.
Postpartum depression is less common. In addition, breastfeeding hormones relax the mother and help her to fall asleep more quickly.
For all these reasons, we inform both mothers and fathers-to-be about the importance of breast milk, the benefits of breastfeeding, breastfeeding techniques and positive parenting. We know that the higher the level of awareness, the more willing and longer breastfeeding will be possible. We provide training, especially to involve fathers in the breastfeeding process. With the support fathers will provide to the mother, both quality breastfeeding conditions will be created and the mother's anxiety will decrease and continuity of breastfeeding will be ensured.
In all births at our hospital, we bring your baby together with you immediately, unless there is any obstacle in your and your baby's health. Ensuring skin-to-skin contact will comfort both you and your baby. We provide the necessary conditions to start breastfeeding immediately with our experienced staff.
We continue the relationship between mother and baby, which starts from pregnancy, in our rooms where the necessary conditions for the baby's health are provided. We try to increase the peace of the baby and you by explaining that the baby should be breastfed whenever the baby asks for it, and what the early signs of hunger are even before the baby cries. By demonstrating appropriate breastfeeding techniques in practice, we try to prevent situations such as nipple cracks, mastitis, late lactation, not gaining enough weight due to improper breastfeeding. We continue breastfeeding counseling after discharge from the hospital to ensure that breastfeeding, which starts seconds after birth, continue for the first 6 months and with complementary feeding for at least 2 years and beyond.
If you need to be separated from your baby for any medical indication (such as intensive care hospitalization), our doctors will continue to prioritize breastfeeding for the health of our babies in the neonatal intensive care unit. Our doctors will try to reunite you with your baby as soon as possible. During the time your baby is away from you, we will explain the techniques of expressing breast milk and the storage conditions in detail. We try to support you with stress management to reduce your anxiety during this difficult period when you are separated from your baby.
Unfortunately, the unnecessary use of artificial nutrition outside of medical indications is increasing the sense of inadequacy in mothers.
The main dangers of artificial feeding
1. Prevents the close relationship between mother and baby
2. Increased likelihood of diarrhea and respiratory diseases
3. Diarrhea becomes chronic
4. Malnutrition, vitamin A deficiency can be seen
5. Increased risk of dying from infection and malnutrition
6. Allergy and intolerance to animal milk may develop
7. Increased risk of chronic diseases
8. May cause obesity.
9. May cause mental retardation
10. Risk of anemia, increased risk of maternal cancer (ovarian/breast)
For all these reasons, advertising (posters, brochures) and free sample distribution of all breast milk substitute products are prevented in our hospital. At the same time, we try to support breastfeeding by informing families about the drawbacks of using pacifiers and bottles.
Our aim is to ensure that our babies start life and grow up in a healthy way. Breastfeeding protects against many diseases in childhood and adulthood. It is possible to prevent diseases with breast milk.
REFERENCES
» Dilli D et al. J. Pediatr 2008.BMJ 2003;326:13-15
» Breastfeeding and dental caries, Tham et al., Acta Pædiatrica 2015 104, pp.62-84
» Breastfeeding and intelligence, Horta et al., Acta Pædiatrica 2015 104, pp.14-19
» Julvez j, et al attention behavior and hyperactivity at age 4 and duration of breastfeeding. Acta Paediatr. 2007 jun;96(6):842-7
» Yan J, Liu L, Zhu Y, Huang G, Wang PP. The association between breastfeeding and childhood obesity: a meta-analysis. BMC Public Health.2014 Dec 13;14:1267.
» Lancet 2016; 387: 475-90
