Breastfeeding is not always as easy as it looks. Although women have done it from the birth of the world's first humans, it's still a learned function. Just as human babies have to learn to walk, many new mothers have to learn to breast-feed.

In Bermuda today that calls for time and patience and for many local mothers that equals luxury. In fact only about one percent of mothers in Bermuda offer their babies breast milk alone for their first six-months of life.

This week is World Breastfeeding Week and helping to champion the cause locally is accredited La Leche League leader Melony Kendell.

La Leche League is a registered charity offering information, encouragement and support to pregnant women and new mothers who choose to breastfeed. Trained and accredited leaders who volunteer their time without charge carry out the work.

Body & Soul spoke to Mrs. Kendell on the theme of this year's World Breastfeeding Week — Mother Support: Going for the Gold.

What does the theme for World Breast Cancer week mean?

Going for the Gold is a reference to this summer's World Olympics and calls for mothers to follow the gold standard in infant feeding. This means adhering to the World Health Organisation's (WHO) recommendation that all babies be exclusively breastfed for the first six months.

Breastfeeding is a simple, natural, cost-effective, environmentally friendly way to provide the very best beginning for infants. There is irrefutable evidence that babies nursed according to WHO guidelines are healthier as infants and also as children and adults. With global epidemics of obesity, heart disease and diabetes, breastfeeding provides the first line of defense for lowering the incidences of these and many other diseases.

Sadly, less than one percent of women in Bermuda are following WHO guidelines. We hope the theme of this year's World Breastfeeding Week campaign will impact positively on how we as a community support women to breastfeed.

Why aren't more women following WHO guidelines?

Unfortunately, we live in a bottle-feeding culture. In parts of the world where everyone nurses their babies, women get all the support they need from relatives and friends.

Because so few women in Bermuda are breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months, there just isn't enough consistent and accurate information available when women have problems and need help. While healthcare professionals understand the value of mother's milk and certainly encourage women to breastfeed, most physicians, midwives and nurses are not specifically trained in breastfeeding management. When mothers run into difficulties and don't receive assistance to overcome their challenges, they lose confidence and give up.

We also have a very high percentage of employed women in our community. While it is absolutely possible to work and breastfeed, we need workplace environments that are mother-friendly.

What steps do we need to take to improve breastfeeding rates?

We need to educate women while they are pregnant about the importance of breastfeeding. We need to provide new mothers with accurate and consistent information to assure they get off to a good start. We need to make sure every mother has support and encouragement when faced with challenges in the early days and weeks.

What about formula? Isn't that a good choice for women who can't breastfeed?

Breastfeeding isn't just another feeding option — it is literally the gold standard for infant feeding and cannot be compared to artificial baby food. The evidence is very clear that human milk provides enormous benefits to babies and mothers.

No one is suggesting we blame mothers for choosing to use formula or make them feel guilty or wrong. We don't blame diabetics for not following a diet and exercise plan. What we do is educate them about making healthy choices, provide them with resources and support their efforts.

The same thing needs to happen with breastfeeding — we, as a community, need to support breastfeeding as the gold standard. This means physicians, the hospital, the Department of Health and employers.

If we make a community-wide commitment to following WHO guidelines, we will increase breastfeeding rates. With proper information, support and encouragement, women can successfully nurse their babies.

What needs to be done?

Both the Ministry of Health and the hospital have demonstrated a very real commitment to health and wellness by undertaking positive initiatives over the past year. The next logical step is for both the Department of Health and the hospital to hire certified lactation consultants. At the moment, nobody in Bermuda is working in that capacity. With 800 births a year, it would make all the difference in the world to have an LC visit every mother prior to discharge and then again during the first week. And the expense of hiring lactation consultants would be offset by reduced healthcare costs and reduced health insurance premiums. It's a win-win solution.

Being designated as a Baby-Friendly Hospital is another cost-effective step that would increase breastfeeding rates. This programme, run by WHO, recognises hospitals that provide an optimal environment for the promotion, protection and support of breastfeeding. Becoming Baby-Friendly would not incur great expense and would make a huge difference in our community.

Another important step is encouraging companies to provide a room where working mothers can express milk for their baby. This only needs to be a small room with a comfortable chair and an outlet. Businesses will save money in reduced healthcare costs and health insurance premiums and become an employer of choice — women who are supported in the workplace are more productive and less likely to change jobs.

What can women do if they are having problems?

The most important message for new mothers is to get help! Educate yourself while you are pregnant. Take prenatal classes that offer breastfeeding information. Attend La Leche League meetings. Talk to your healthcare provider.

Ask for help from midwives at the hospital, seek support from visiting nurses when you get home and call La Leche League if you have problems. None of us would be here if women couldn't breastfeed. While it is a natural and normal process, it is also a learned art. With accurate information, appropriate support and sufficient encouragement, mothers can succeed.

For breastfeeding assistance, call 737-4577. La Leche League meetings are run by accredited Leaders and held on the second Saturday of each month at 10:30 a.m. in the First Floor Conference Room at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital. All mothers, babies and pregnant women are welcome. LLL also provides 24-hour telephone help, home visits and counselling sessions.