Breastfeeding Spaces

Because of my work in Baby Magazine, I made up my mind early on that, if I were to have any children, I would breastfeed them. In my work, I saw how moms chose to breastfeed even if there were challenges in their way: going back to the office after maternity leave was the most common obstacle; traveling without baby; and one mom we featured was a breast cancer survivor who beat all odds and succeeded in breastfeeding her daughter.

So when I was expecting our first baby, I wanted to make sure that everything would work out in breastfeeding's favor. My doctor assured me that the hospital in which I would be giving birth was a Mother-Baby friendly heath facility, meaning they have policies to help ensure that breastfeeding the newborn is made easier and more successful.

We visited the hospital before I was due and looked around. The hospital staff showed us a room with breastfeeding chairs and pillows for new moms to use and be comfortable (and for expecting moms to sit and get the feel of it, which was what I did!). They told us about the hospital policies, such as the rooming-in policy, which meant my baby would be brought into the room with me and I could nurse her right away. The helpful people in the breastfeeding center also gave us information leaflets on the subject, covering crucial info like the proper latch, what must a breastfeeding mom eat, the benefits of breastfeeding, among other interesting tidbits.

When I gave birth, it was truly a whirlwind of activity, with my doctor caring for me, and the pediatrician in charge handling my daughter. The residents assisting my doctor made sure the first latch was made as soon as the umbilical cord was cut. I saw my baby and she saw me; they positioned her on top of my chest and I felt her heft and warmth. After the first latch, they took her to be examined and I could watch her from my delivery bed as I was being treated. Then they moved me out of the bed and into a gurney and wheeled me out of the delivery room and into the recovery room... but I saw nothing more of that as I was exhausted!

I woke up later in the recovery room and I saw my baby in the baby bed beside mine. When finally the time to watch me closely was finished, they wheeled both of us to our inpatient room. As soon as we were settled in the room, I could try to nurse her again.

The next day, a nursing consultant came by to see if baby was latching correctly. At this point, there was no milk to be seen, and if I had not interviewed so many moms about their experiences in breastfeeding, I would probably be contemplating on buying formula milk. But persist I did, and I latched her on one side, switched her to the other. The nursing consultant encouraged me and helped me get it right.

By the time we were going home, I could say I pretty much got the feel of it. After the colostrum stage, the mature milk arrived and there was so much of it, I caught what my doctor called a "milk fever," solved only by breastfeeding all the more.

Breastfeeding Spaces

It's been eight years since then, and I have breastfed all my babies; currently nursing the fourth. Why am I talking about my nursing experience in a "Space" article? I may not be an architect, but I do believe that the spaces that make breastfeeding easier do help moms succeed in their breastfeeding journey.

It's true that mostly it's thanks to the hospital's Mother-Baby friendly policies that I was able to keep to my decision to nurse my children. Because of their policies, 1) the first latch was established (and I didn't need to make a birth plan to insist on it). Then 2) rooming-in was done. Finally, 3) a nursing consultant helped me every day that I was there. But policies can only really be carried out well if the spaces allow them to do so. That's why, in designing a hospital, doctors and architects really need to understand each other to get the specific needs of the space.

The same goes for breastfeeding spaces in public places such as the mall. There is a balance between their being accessible (to encourage people to use them) and hidden (for privacy) that must be achieved. Here in the Philippines, no one really has a problem with moms breastfeeding in public because Filipino moms, being modest in general when it comes to this, often bring a breastfeeding cover wherever they go. Breastfeeding rooms are useful if, like in the review I posted on Mitsukoshi Mall, it is designed as a space for families with young children to hunker down in peace when it seems that one or all of the children have had one too many cookies (plus points for diaper changing tables that don't look like they want to drop your baby).

Another breastfeeding space that helps moms in their nursing journey is the "breastfeeding station" at home. It's usually a comfy chair with large arm rests or a breastfeeding pillow situated in a quiet part of the house so the mom can settle down and nurse her child in peace. I've heard of this when I was interviewing moms for Baby Magazine; they would tell me that the station should be near a book shelf or a little table which can hold books and other items for entertainment, some snacks, a water bottle. The idea is: mom's gonna be there for a while so it helps when she doesn't need to call for anyone to help her reach for little things such as those.

Personally, I used to have a nursing station, too. It was useful for a while, then I realized later that my home is small enough for me not to need to have everything within arm's reach anyway. (And also that a little walking around can do the new mom a lot of good.)

Going back to my story earlier, I gave birth last year in the same Mother-Baby friendly hospital. The same things they did for my first were the same things they did for this one. After we were moved to our inpatient room, the nursing consultant came to praise the little baby boy for latching so well. She came again the next day to tell me the benefits of breastfeeding. I told her that this little guy is the fourth one and that I've breastfed them all (and that, at that time, I was still breastfeeding my third child and that they would be doing tandem when we got home).

She was amazed; but really she shouldn't be. I thanked her and the others in the hospital for helping me and many other moms to succeed in breastfeeding. I recognize that this is not my success, but that of everyone in the picture who have made it possible for me to carry out my decision... whether it is by doing what is needed, giving advice, making good policies, or creating the proper conducive spaces.

"It's true that mostly it's thanks to the hospital's Mother-Baby friendly policies that I was able to keep to my decision to nurse my children. Because of their policies, 1) the first latch was established (and I didn't need to make a birth plan to insist on it). Then 2) rooming-in was done. Finally, 3) a nursing consultant helped me every day that I was there. But policies can only really be carried out well if the spaces allow them to do so."