SINGAPORE: More efforts are being made to get mothers to
breastfeed. At an event to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week on
Saturday, a new support group and a Chinese handbook for
breastfeeding were launched.
One special guest was also invited to share her experience of
nursing her children.
Ho Ching, Temasek Holdings' CEO, said: "As a nursing mother some 20
years ago, I bought breast pumps to make sure that my babies had my
milk when I was not around to breastfeed them directly."
World Breastfeeding Week is usually celebrated from August 1 to 7
every year, in more than 120 countries.
Apart from sharing, Ms Ho also launched a breastfeeding interest
group called "[email protected] Tee".
Based at the Yew Tee Community Club, it is a platform for mothers
to share their experiences, as well as get help from counsellors
and lactation consultants.
Angeline Wee-Yew, president, Breastfeeding Mothers' Support Group,
said: "Support is also very important when they go back to work
because currently, most mothers drop off breastfeeding when they go
back to work. What we want to do is to help them prolong
breastfeeding because they are so much more benefits."
The Breastfeeding Mothers' Support Group hopes women can breastfeed
their infants exclusively for up to six months, according to World
Health Organisation recommendations.
- CNA/so
