Breastfeeding Support in Hong Kong (Part 1)

Many families in Hong Kong will consider breastfeeding their babies for many reasons. And even though there is growing awareness and support for breastfeeding, breastfeeding rates in Hong Kong remain relatively low.

UNICEF (UK) have been clear that the chances of breastfeeding success is not down to individual women and their families – but the systems and communities they’re living in –and this is true in Hong Kong too.

“It is time to stop placing the blame for the UK's low breastfeeding rates on individual women and instead acknowledge that this is a public health imperative for which government, policy- makers, communities and families all share responsibility.” – UNICEF UK (2016)

Families need to know the current state of breastfeeding support available in Hong Kong to be able to recognise when they are getting good care, and what they can do to have the best chance of breastfeeding success.

Why is breastfeeding recommended?

• Breastfeeding is recommended as the optimal method of child nutrition worldwide. The World Health Organisation recommends starting breastfeeding within one hour of birth, continuing exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of baby’s life (no other liquids or foodstuffs), and extending breastfeeding to two years and beyond alongside a healthy and nutritious diet.

• This is because breastfeeding is known to provide significant health benefits to babies such as providing antibodies to fight infections (particularly respiratory infections, gastrointestinal infections, and ear infections), reducing their risk of sudden infant death syndrome, protecting babies from developing asthma, food allergies, atopic dermatitis and eczema, reducing their risk of obesity, childhood cancers, and promoting better brain and gut health and development

• Breastfeeding also provides significant health benefits to mothers – reducing their risk of breast and ovarian cancers, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.

• Because these health benefits are so important to maternal and child wellbeing, healthcare systems have been developed to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding worldwide.

What policy protects and promotes breastfeeding?

In 1991, the World Health Organisation and UNICEF launched the ‘Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative’ (BHFI).

This initiative is made up two key pieces of guidance - the ‘Ten Steps to Successful

Breastfeeding’ and the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes.

Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding:

1. Have a written infant feeding policy that is communicated to all healthcare staff

2. Ensure all healthcare staff have the knowledge and skills to implement the policy

3. Educate all pregnant women on the benefits and management of breastfeeding

4. Protect uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact after birth and help mothers start

breastfeeding soon after birth

5. Teach mothers how to breastfeed and maintain breastfeeding, even if they are

separated from their babies

6. Give newborns only breastmilk, unless medically indicated

7. Practice rooming-in, keeping mum and baby together 24hours a day

8. Encourage responsive feeding

9. Counsel families on the use and risks of feeding bottles, teats, and pacifiers

10. Ensure families know where to go for continued breastfeeding support in their local communities

If you want to know which healthcare facilities are baby-friendly in Hong Kong, come back for part 2!