How
can we provide better health for our children? This is the question every
responsible parent wants to be answered. The importance of breastfeeding in
rural areas and urban areas in Nepal is well identified, but least consensus
exists about its practice in urban areas. A study entitled “Knowledge and
Practice on Breastfeeding among Mothers of Infants” shows that in urban parts
only 20.8% mothers exclusively breastfeed their infant compared to 52.6% in
rural Nepal.
In
last decades of 19th century many research reveals the association
of breastfeeding with child neurological health. Then, Doctors and health
advisors began to emphasize a fact that parenthood can uplift infant physical
as well as mental health and reduce infant mortality rate, if paid proper
consideration on breast feeding. Though breastfeeding was traditionally
grounded practice in Nepalese society it also got scientific base after such
researches. Consequently public too
started realizing the benefit of breastfeeding. But this realization alone
couldn’t enforce mothers to practice breastfeeding. Many Nepalese women,
especially in urban Nepal undergo dilemma to choose between ‘motherhood’ and ‘partly
parenthood’ as they are bound to earn for their living also.
Breastfeeding
and Mental health
Evolutionary theory is always plagued by
sensible question whether being geniuses is inborn or
circumstantial. Every instance biochemist and neuroscientist are endeavoring to
figure out precise link between breastfeeding and neurological development.
Till now research has revealed the presence of fatty acids in mother milk may
influence infant mental aspect. Using this deduction as hypothesis, a crew of
inquisitive scientists conducted research to assert the influence of mother’s
milk on children brain development. Under the
leadership of Federal
University of Pelotas, Brazilian
researcher conduct follow up study of 3500 infant from 1982
research and found that breastfed infant
had grown up with more IQ, performing better in academic ground and also had higher
earning. Findings of this research
issued in the Lancet Global Health journal even interpreted that “Breastfeeding
is associated with improved performance in intelligence tests 30 years later,
and might have an important effect in real life, by increasing educational attainment
and income in adulthood.”
Similarly in case of nursing mother, breastfeeding defense breast cancer and may possibly protect from ovarian cancer also. Epidemiological and biological research has made quite scientific deduction that rising up worldwide breastfeeding practice could avert 823000 annual deaths rate of infant below 5 years and 20000 annual deaths from breast cancer.
Problems
Shifting
attitude of Nepalese women can be viewed at micro and macro level behavioral
choice that highly occurred after 1990s. In Kathmandu today many mothers prefer
formula feeding over breast feeding. In micro level this preference is partly
peddled by women’s over concern to their physical figure and to some extend the
influencing promissory advertisement of chemical industry also manipulate
mothers to choose their products. And in Macro level, woman individualism and
career opportunity comes across her maternal responsibilities. Which also promotes
working mother’s tendency to seek excuses for not breastfeeding Some
female activist, particularly radical feminist consider breast feeding as patriarchal policy to
force women inside household chores. Women activists should understand that biologically
breast feeding job falls under women compulsion because they are the one who conceive
child and naturally produce milk for them.
Of
course breast feeding has nutritional and immune benefit. Additionally, it gives
platform for mothers to be close to her baby, beside motherhood in itself is
its own reward. And at this point some
feminist claims will turn against passionate mothers. When female activist
impose individualism to sympathize rural mothers for their choice, they often
mock the value of motherhood. Because when they declare breastfeeding as
patriarchal politics to confine women within home, on one hand they discourage working mothers
form breastfeeding and also snatch sense
of satisfaction, a non-working mother feel when she passionately breastfeed and nurture her child. And most
importantly on other hand they
undermine silent revolution against patriarchy, which is workplace policy and
organizational change need to happen soon. Since discouraging breastfeeding
will not motivate institutional change.
Sustainable
Solution
Today
why is breast regarded as sex object rather than source of nutrition for children?
These fashion industry and marketing corporations have succeed in objectifying woman’s breast as a result many
Nepalese women feel uncomfortable to breastfed in public. And in some case women themselves are
objectifying their breast, as when any mother
choose formula feeding for reason
of being disfigured by practicing breastfeeding. However, it will be wrong to put all blame on
mothers only. Instead, we should enforce authority to amend underlying
malfunctions triggering poor breastfeeding practice in urban areas , such
as ; uncompromising workplace
principles, erotic social psychology towards women’s body, over exaggerated
individualism and also young women’s
over concern to their body shape.
And
to the end these discussion on individualism and patriarchal domination will become worthless when some poor working
mother explains her decision to bottle feeding, or similarly when other
deprived non-working mother happily justifies reasons for breastfeeding her
baby. Instead of criticizing, if female activists try to promote breastfeeding
practice as productive work , circumstance
for its successful integration can be reinforced. These reinforcement
includes private and government sector hiring women employee should ensure
‘Right to motherhood’ by introducing some new strategies like; payment during
pregnancy leave, nursing breaks, and other mother-friendly policies. This may
be too expansive for workplace to implement at once, yet they should ponder
over it.
However,
if this debate settles down, the other
day some new “ism” will appear to
criticize breastfeeding. Theorist always
exist on base of such argument and criticism so they will figure out one way or
another to criticize on everything. Neither we need to linger on findings of any
research to prove the benefits of breastfeeding nor we are compelled to abide
by feminist or individualist view about breastfeeding. Because breastfeeding is not a sacrifice or
surrender , it’s just a unanimous biotic responsibility practiced by all mammals.
These hypercritical arguments will foster prejudice in female which ultimately puts
gender ego over motherhood resulting vicious-circle. By
practicing breastfeeding mothers will lose nothing but ignoring it may
cost a lot, so ‘Better safe than sorry’.
--A version of this article appears in print in The Rising Nepal
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