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Grandparents play pivotal role in successful breastfeeding, experts say
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Many people are still unaware that breastfeeding is the right of both mother and child. (Shutterstock/-)
W
hile the role of husbands has been stressed in playing a key role in the success of breastfeeding, experts have said grandparents can also have a vital contribution in helping parents provide breast milk after childbirth.
Pediatrician and renowned breastfeeding campaigner Utami Roesli said the development of medical knowledge and open access to public information had educated parents on the importance of breastfeeding.
“But the pressure not to provide breast milk sometimes comes from the grandmother," she said during a seminar titled “The support of grandparents for the success of breastfeeding" held by the Indonesian Lactation Center (SELASI) at City Hall on Thursday.
She cited examples of grandmothers who force-feed babies with bananas, formula milk or air tajin (rice milk), in particular when the mother of the baby returns to work after maternity leave.
The role of grandparents is becoming more significant as they are the ones predominantly left to take care of the baby.
"Actually, all grandparents want to have their grandchildren healthy. If they do not support breastfeeding, they're probably just uninformed,” she said.
Utami noted that babies should be exclusively breastfed up to the age of 6 months and that breastfeeding could continue until the baby is 2 years old.
