Sir, – It was disappointing to read Dr Clare Moriarty’s criticism of the World Health Organisation’s guidelines on the promotion of breastfeeding, including new guidance related to “social media influencers” (“It’s time for a little more realism on breastfeeding”, Opinion & Analysis, December 30th).
As noted, Ireland’s Department of Health and the HSE endorse World Health Organisation guidance for the exclusive breastfeeding of infants for their first six months; however, Dr Moriarty’s depiction of this scenario, declaring new parents cannot possibly “fulfil this”, and that a breastfeeding mother cannot be apart from her child, read as extreme as she depicts the WHO guidance to be.
Parents of exclusively breastfed children will attest that schedules and sleep-filled nights emerge naturally, as the infant matures, and falls into their own self-regulated routines. This is the opposite of adult-imposed schedules that WHO cautions against. A second (non-breastfeeding) parent can participate in the care of their new child in many ways, from bathing, to changing, to cuddling, massaging, etc. This gives the feeding parent much needed respite, as feeding is only one aspect of caring for a new baby.
Dr Moriarty insists the WHO guidance is “ethically unsupportable” and “misguided” particularly referring to mothers of additional children who must “remove yourself from other children” due to on-demand feeding.
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As a parent who exclusively breastfed five children, I never “removed” myself, but rather tucked the baby in for a feed, as I continued to read the book, sit at the park, watch a dance recital, or football match. Older children will naturally share “maternal attention”, developing the aptitude to nurture through the closeness and intimate family dynamics of being included, rather than feel excluded. The portable nature, perfect temperature, uniquely designed formulation of each mother’s breast milk means it is easy to be present in family and community life (including attending weddings, another concern of Dr Moriarty) without need to prep, pack, tote or worry.
Unicef reports breastfeeding rates in Ireland as among the lowest in the world, with just over 60 per cent of mothers breastfeeding at discharge from hospital. At six months only 15 per cent are exclusively breastfeeding. For an educated and wealthy nation, these are shocking statistics.
It is uncontested that breastfeeding provides significant short-term and long-term health benefits (physical and emotional) for both the mother and infant, which artificial substitute feeding cannot replicate. This includes the mother’s physical recovery from pregnancy and birth, while supporting the infant’s systems to adapt to life outside the womb. Rather than characterising WHO guidance as “above and beyond the call of duty”, we should reflect on how we can better support mothers and families to successfully breastfeed.
Recent research led by Dr Liz O’Sullivan, lecturer in nutrition at Technological University Dublin, ranked Ireland as 56 out of 100 in the support for and protection of breastfeeding, with reasonable, achievable recommendations to change mindsets and behaviours related to infant feeding. Whatever about social influencers described as “unqualified” to offer “nutritional advice”, Dr Moriarty, with a PhD specialism in early modern philosophy and mathematics, might use her platform to encourage the adoption of O’Sullivan et al’s recommendations, rather than undermining our low achievements in this area and criticising evidence-based and universally accepted WHO guidance. – Yours, etc,
S COSTELLO,
Knocknacarra,
Galway.