Breastfeeding

I chose breastfeed as my topic for this week. Because I have read many articles about the benefit of breastfeeding before I gave birth to my son. I also made a decision to breastfeed him. 

The best nutrition starts with breast milk (Berger, 2014). Breastfeeding is the normal way of providing young infants with the nutrients, which is a nearly perfect mix of vitamins, protein, and fat, they need for healthy growth and development. It is more easily digested than infant formula. According to WHO,Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended up to 6 months of age, with continued breastfeeding along with appropriate complementary foods up to two years of age or beyond.Breast milk help baby fight off viruses and bacteria, lowers baby's risk of having asthma or allergies. In addition, babies who are breast fed exclusively  for the first 6 months have fewer ear infections, respiratory illnesses, and bouts of diarrhea(WH, 2014). 

After reading the articles about breastfeeding in China. I am surprised that China's rates of breastfeeding are among the  world's lowest. According to UNICEF China, only about 28% of  Chinese infants younger than 6 month have exclusively breastfeeding. Compare to the global average of about 40% are lower.Study show that many Chinese workplaces give new mothers no way to nurse. Urban mothers usually get no more than four months of maternity leave. Women from the countryside who move to the city to work leave babies with grandparents who have no choice but to use powdered formula. The advertisement from formula companies encourage people think the baby formula was more nutritious and will help baby become stronger and smarter. Many hospital failed to encourage to breastfeeding. However health workers and the government are trying to revive the practice(Tang, 2013).

Reference:

Berger, K. S. (2012). The developing person through childhood (6th ed.). New York, NY.  Worth Publishers.

Tang, D. (2013). China battles breast-feeding rates among the world’s lowest amid tainted formula scares.

Retrieved from

 http://www.thestar.com/life/parent/2013/08/09/china_battles_breastfeeding_rates_among_the_worlds_lowest_amid_tainted_formula_scares.html

Womens Health (2014) Breastfeeding. Retrieved from http://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/breastfeeding-benefits.php

Childbirth In Your Life and Around the World - childbirth in Netherlands

The Netherlands is the highest rate of home births in the world. 30 percent of all births take place at home . They believe that child birth is a natural, physical process, not a medical condition.  Doctors only intervene in high-risk cases or if complications arise during delivery. Dutch women decide whether they want a home or hospital delivery and  more than half of the women at my midwife's practice deliver at home. If a mother gives birth early in the day without complications at hospital, she and the baby may go home in as little as two hours. 

In China, government promote the hospital birth. We think that it is saver for the both mother and baby. I never thought that give birth at home. All the prenatal examines have done by the doctors at hospital and mostly covered by healthy insurance. If a mother gives girth with out complications at hospital, at least stay 2 days in the hospital.

Childbirth In Your Life and Around the World - my personal experience

I would like to share my personal birth experience one year ago.  It  was a long process for me. I went in labor at 11:00 pm and delivered on next day 2:20 pm. Doctor suggested me to have c-section during childbirth. My  husband and I both think natural childbearing is better for our baby and my midwife also said I still can do it. After I tried my best with my midwife guiding and injection of Oxycontin, my baby was born.  At that moment, I felt so relax and pleasure. Everything is worth.

I've read article about the advantage of natural childbirth compare with c-section for a baby. That's why I persisted.