EXCLUSIVE breastfeeding has been proven to be unparalleled for the healthy growth and development of young infants and the Saudi government, via the Ministry of Health, has long encouraged breastfeeding among mothers. While such efforts are laudable, leading doctors in the Kingdom say more needs to be done to improve breast feeding rates among working mothers, Al-Riyadh daily reports. Gynecologist Dr. Farah Abdulaal described breastfeeding as a daily dialogue between a mother and her infant. Saying it is more than just a transmittance of vitamins and nutrients, she explained how breastfeeding has countless benefits for the baby, mother, family and society. "Breast milk is healthy and full of nutrients which help strengthen a baby's jaw, encourage teeth to grow and strengthen the immune system. For the mother, breastfeeding has been shown to reduce the risks of diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and certain types of cancers," she said. "Breastfeeding is beneficial for a mother because it helps the uterus shrink back to its normal size and helps the mother lose the weight she gained during pregnancy. Above all, breastfeeding reduces postpartum depression symptoms and prevents a second pregnancy in the first six months following the delivery," she added. Emotional development Sabah Zahar, a sociologist, said breastfeeding enhances emotional security for a mother and her baby and helps develop emotions and raise intelligence levels. "This is one of the methods that help a mother interact with her baby. Studies show that babies who are given breast milk grow to be smarter than those who are not because the brain grows fast in the first year and needs full nutrients, which only a mother's milk can provide," she said. There are also economic benefits: Breastfed babies are less likely to fall sick, which means reduced medical expenses. A study carried out on American mothers showed women who breastfeed their babies saved, on average, $1,000 a year on medical expenses. Working mothers have long complained that they are unable to leave their jobs to breastfeed their babies and according to Hussain Al-Marri, director of the Ministry of Labor's branch office in Asir, help may be on the way. Al-Marri said the new Labor Law approved a recommendation to give working mothers an hour to breastfeed their babies while at work. "This is a paid hour that continues to be effective for 24 months from the date of delivery, whether the mother breastfeeds or bottle-feeds her baby. This will help working mothers by giving them greater job security," he said. Nuha Al-Remaihi, a nutritionist, advised mothers to eat foods that help boost lactation such as nuts, dried fruit and olive oil. She also recommended the use of breast pumps to store excess milk. "Whenever the breasts enlarge, the mother should use a breast pump and suck milk out of them to be stored in glass bottles in the fridge. Mothers should also try and not get stressed at work because stress can affect lactation," she said.
