Breastfeeding? YES!

Breast milk is the best food for babies. For the first six month of babies lives, which they're still fragile, low of immunities, stress and weak (because after 9 months living in enclosed warm and dark environment and suddenly must face the cool, light, hei, it's wild wild world out here) , breast milk provide all the immunities that they need to avoid early infection and fight off illness such as UTI, ear infection, cough, cold, etc. And also because breast milk is all natural and easiest on their digestive system so there's less chance of constipation or diarrhea. So, 6 months exclusivity is a must!
Breast feeding also will increase bounding between mummies and babies, when a baby suckling mummy nipple and mummy cradle him/her in her arm the baby stress level will drop and will feel being loved, protected and healthier. Some researches also shown breastfed babies have higher IQ than formula ones. So, breast milk is superb, right?

Now, the problem is : why women refuse to breastfeeding their babies? Their children as proved of their own existence in this word? That's what I never able to understand.
Note: except because of medical condition which prevent mummy to breastfed the baby, like my friend who suddenly got thyroid infection and the medicines prescribe by doctor were strong and harmful for baby
From my personal survey, mostly because of:

• Breast milk production is low
  
• Troublesome, afraid to have clinging baby (so they can't shopping or hanging out with friends)
• Out of fashion/ out of date
  
• want to have soundly night sleep/ fully rest (see if you baby got sick, how soundly you can sleep except you're truely heartless mum)
• Confinement lady didn't want to cooperate and kept influencing MIL( 'her baby still hungry, her milk is not enough' )
  
• husband complain (because of his wife lack attention for him and crying baby in his bedroom *please lah, this is you baby too* )
• MIL and visiting aunties complain ( ' aiyo.. your baby so small, doesn't eat enough, aiyo you're so old-minded' )
  
• scare of breasts shape changes ( gym..gym..gym)
  
• and most annoying is the believe that formula got all what a baby need aka formula is the best ( so, why each formula claimed their breakthrough new adding formulation/ingredient is more similar or close match to breast milk then their other piers?)
• Full time working mums ( so, no time lah )
  
• etc...
  

True, breast feeding is not easy for everyone and need sacrifice. Mostly women not only must endure the hardship of breastfeeding ( engorgement, mastitis, infection, broken sleep ) but also must have a heart of steel and deaf ears to fend off all negative remarks and move forward.
Many women, who're determined at first to breastfed their baby will failed later because not strong enough.
SO, how to solve it? These are some important steps :

• Proper education about benefit and how to breastfeed not only for mummies to be but also DH, MIL, DM, as long as you've supportive people behind you, it will be much more easier
• Early breastfeeding initiation for newborn babies
  
• Supportive group for all breastfeeding mummies
  
• Supportive environment to breastfed such as rooms for breastfeeding mums in public places
• Stop giving away free sample of milk formula from the sponsors in nursing wards.
• Most important is a supportive hospital including (pediatrician, gynecologist, nurse)

For some women, especially first time mums usually will faced no breast milk for almost 3 days, need 3-5 days for new mum to produce sufficient amount of early milk/ colostrum which is highly nutritions and antibodies. To speed up the process, mums needs to relax and encourage babies to suckle nipples as often as possible. If the babies showing sign of dehydration ( although very rare ), feed them with plain cooled down boiled water or a little formula with spoon to avoid nipple confusion.
And also there is a believe chubby/fat baby is healthy baby. Many baby photo contests were won by chubby, fat babies, this in not right, right?
But I think the main point of failure is the lack of proper eduction and lack of supportive group, so breastfeeding mummies not only felt a lot of pressure but also left behind.
Since public places at mostly Asia country specially in Indonesia lack of breastfeeding rooms/areas for mummies and babies, so women better buy some proper breastfeeding dresses or tops , so don't need to flip up tops in the public. Breastfeeding attire usually have hidden holes for nipple or breast to feed babies.
And for mummies...Breastfeeding your babies will help you slim down and get rid of post natal extra pounds. It burn about 500 calorie from breastfeeding alone :) ( imagine equal with 1 hour running on treadmill ) so a very nice extra bonus, right?
Don't hesitate, let encourage breastfeeding, only breast milk for our precious babies from now on....