What are the policies around breastfeeding in ECE as a mother/staff member? Is there a national policy around breastfeeding? What are pedagogical implications on practice?

As I work with my child I have started to wonder what would have happened if I breastfeed while being in paid work. Would I be able to ‘breastfeed on demand’? Or would I have to wait until I had my breaks? Would I be asked to express? I however had stopped breastfeeding when my son was enrolled in care but this year a staff member had a baby and when returning to work would be breastfeeding while her child came to the centre. Because of this I started to think a lot deeper about her situation and I came up with the following questions:

·         Is there an ECE policy around breastfeeding in the early childhood centre I work in?

For both parents and staff members.

·         Is there a national policy about breastfeeding?

·         What would the pedagogical implications be for other staff members and the children?

I have discovered that there is a national breastfeeding policy about mothers who return to employment and this is stated in the Employment Relations Act (McKinlay, 2010). The act states that all employees must provide breastfeeding mothers with practicable and reasonable facilities and breaks to breastfeed their child or to express milk (McKinlay, 2010).

Beaumont (as cited in Hann, 2008) supports this act by saying "Breastfeeding mums need to feel confident that workplaces have policies in place and a culture that supports them and their babies in the workplace."

However Seaward (as cited in Hann, 2008) states that although the act is a positive for breastfeeding mothers they are still however “at the mercy of their employers a bit because they (the employer) can say it isn't practical.”

I approached my staffing team and asked whether we had a specific policy about breastfeeding for parents and staff members and found out that we don’t. However the head teacher stated that we have an open door policy towards breastfeeding mothers and support their feeding choice. She also stated that the centre follows the Employment Relations Act for staff members.

There are many pedagogical implications that breastfeeding can have on a teachers practice. One implication that could impact on a teachers ability to teach could be having to learn new strategies to settle a child whose mother comes into the centre every 3-4hours to breastfeed them. Teachers would also need to allow for flexibility with routines by having individualised feeding programmes that responds to each child as well as their parents’ wishes (Bartle & Duncan, 2010). Strong relationships with the parents are needed to be able to discuss the child’s routine and needs.

Bartle and Duncan (2010) state that having an open door policy towards all parents especially breastfeeding mothers is a great way to support mothers to feel comfortable to return to the centre throughout the day to breastfeed.

Another pedagogical implication would be the moral responsibility of the staff members to support breastfeeding by adjusting their practice and providing a visible presence of breastfeeding throughout the centre. Bartle and Duncan (2010) states that this can be done through the visibility of breastfeeding mothers/teachers and having images that support breastfeeding rather than bottle feeding.

Breastfeeding is very important for children and I hope you have gained a lot of knowledge from reading my blog!

Enjoy!

References

Bartle, C., & Duncan, J. (2010). Food for thought: Breastfeeding and early childhood education services. Early childhood folio, 14, (2), 31-36.

Hann, A. (2008 March 24). Law allows mothers to breastfeed at work: Employment relations Act. Independent Newspapers. Retrieved from Pro Quest Datatbase.            http://library.eit.ac.nz:2053/pqcentral/docview/314870744/abstract/12ECB5AD79D1119A3B5/10?accountid=39646

McKinlay, D. (2010 August 05). Breastfeeding in public a mothers right. Independent Newspapers. Retrieved from Pro Quest Database.            http://library.eit.ac.nz:2053/pqcentral/docview/741144692/12ECB5AD79D1119A3B5/12?accountid=39646

How do ECE centres support and promote breastfeeding? What are the management implications?

Since being a student teacher in the last two years only six infants have been breastfed and none of the mother’s breastfed their child within the centre environment. This made me wonder whether the parent was either shy, felt uncomfortable or we weren’t providing an environment that is breastfeeding ‘friendly’.

There are many reasons to why mothers discontinue breastfeeding their infant but the main reason is because the mother needs to return to paid employment and therefore the child is enrolled in child care (Manhire, Horrocks, Tangiora, n.d).  Galtry (2003, as cited in Rankin) also supports this being the main reason to children not being breastfed but has a particular concern for Maori and Pacific Island women. She has this concern as many Maori and Pacific mothers don’t qualify for paid parental leave therefore they have to return to work and may have jobs or early childhood centre’s that are not breastfeeding friendly.

Between the years of 2004-2008 there has been a 20% increased number of infants under the age of one attending childcare providers (Manhire, Horrocks and Tangiora, n.d). Since the number of infants in childcare is increasing I believe that early childhood centres need to encourage and support breastfeeding mothers. This may then develop an increase in the number of children that get breastfed from birth right through to 12 months plus.

Early childhood centres need to support breastfeeding by providing an appropriate/ supportive breastfeeding setting that has a comfortable dedicated area that a mother can use to breastfeed (Bartle & Duncan, 2010). The staff may also support mothers to breastfeed in the main room if they choose to. Staff should provide support and knowledge to parents if they ask, the centre could also have pamphlets and books that parents have access to.

 Dr. Sarah Farquhar (n.d, as cited in ECE express, 2010) also states that staff should ask parents when enrolling their child about their infants nutrition and whether they breastfeed and discuss what they can do to support the parent.

“Early childhood services have an educational, health and social responsibility to ensure effective support for mothers breastfeeding their babies at least up to age 12-months but preferably up to 24-months and beyond if mothers desire.”

 (Dr. Sarah Farquhar, n.d, as cited in ECE express, 2010)

Breastfeeding can affect many management/pedagogical implications in early childhood. One management implication may be that if the early childhood setting is a non breastfeeding friendly centre than the parents may not enrol their child into the centre. This is a management implication because then the enrolment numbers may drop and the centre may also get a ‘bad’ name for not supporting breastfeeding.

If a child is breastfed it can protect the child as well as the mother from infection, therefore the child and mother will have less sick days (Bartle & Duncan, 2010). If a child is constantly away from the centre because they are sick this can be a management implication because the attendance of children may drop.  If the mother that is breastfeeding is a staff member than this can benefit their attendance and therefore be a positive for management as they can then ‘count on’ that staff member to attend work.

My next blog will be about the pedagogical implications breastfeeding has on practice and I will also talk about policies behind breastfeeding. I

References

ECE express. (2010). ECE express. E tipu e rea. Growing our future. Retrieved April 16, 2011 from: http://www.ece-express.co.nz/ECEquestions.php

Manhire, K., Horrocks, G., & Tangiora, A. (n.d) Early childcare centre, support, knowledge,attitudes and beliefs about breastfeeding. Retrieved April 1, 2011 from: http://www.maorisids.org.nz/assets/files/pdf/Risk%20Factors/Early%20childcare%20centre%20support.pdf

Rankin, J. (2003,August 6). Work and breastfeeding good mix. Independent newspapers. Retrieved from Pro Quest database. http://library.eit.ac.nz:2053/pqcentral/docview/314255665/12EDADE6BC0A918DD8/1?accountid=39646

Bartle, C., & Duncan, J. (2010). Food for thought: Breastfeeding and early childhood education services. Early childhood folio, 14, (2), 31-36.

What is New Zealand’s society’s view of breastfeeding? Does the societies view have an impact on mothers choosing to breastfeed?

The New Zealand Herald (2011) wrote an article in May 2010 in outrage about an American lifestyle magazine’s online article titled “10 commandments for eating out with young children”. This article stated as a tenth ‘commandment’ breastfeeding mothers at top restaurants should feed their babies in the toilet. There were so many people in outrage about what had been written that the magazine editor removed the tenth ‘commandment’ and apologized for what was said.

Breastfeeding in public is a right for New Zealand mothers, "it is illegal for someone to stop you breastfeeding at work, where you are studying, on public transport, in government departments, in public places and in restaurants and shops” (Human rights Commission, 2008).

However society may still view breastfeeding as something that should be done in private and out of the public eye. La Leche League (breastfeeding support and advocacy team) supports this by stating that although breastfeeding in public is not as much of an issue as it is in Britain and the US, there are still problems that rise (New Zealand Herald, 2011). One of these issues is that although breastfeeding is generally accepted some mothers are not breastfeeding because they feel less confident to in public.

Following the article in the New Zealand Herald about the American magazine the news reporter added a forum where readers could have their say about the idea of mothers being able to breastfeed in public or having to do it in a toilet. There was a range of opinions and to my astonishment quite a few people agreed with the American magazine. Some people referred breastfeeding as similar as being intimate with their partners and others stated that children should not be in restaurants if they are breastfeed and should be left at home.

Whereas others were supportive of breastfeeding being acceptable in public and suggested turning their eyes away if they saw a mother breastfeeding or mothers covering up their breast with a baby blanket (The New Zealand Herald, 2011). One person in particular shared an experience of their own when out shopping with their baby:  

“My wife and I were in a large chain store at Sylvia Park and baby needed a feed. So she gave baby what she needed. As ya do. When some guy came up (a customer I think) and suggested she take baby to the toilets to "do that". I promptly suggested to him that he go eat his lunch in the toilet - which shut him up.

I can't understand this attitude, breastfeeding is the most natural thing a mother could do and if people like this don't want to see it then don't look!” (The New Zealand Herald, 2011, p.2).

Beasley and Trlin (1998) state that mothers in their book also felt embarrassment towards breastfeeding in public. Looks of disapproval from others, the mothers wondering what the public were thinking contributed to feeling uncomfortable as well as other physical signs like leaking breasts and infants sucking noises as this drew attention towards them (Beasley & Trlin, 1998).

“There have been times when people have given me a look that suggested that maybe what I was doing [was unacceptable]. I felt uncomfortable” (Beasley & Trlin, 1998, p.85).

Mothers are definitely taking on societies views on breastfeeding in public and even though it is being promoted through advertising the breastfeeding statistics have become lowered. Kiwi Families (2007) states that societies view DOES have an impact on some mothers choices to breastfeed but it was not only because of how society feels about seeing breastfeeding in public. There were other reasons to also influence mothers such as formula being advertised and subtly giving the message that babies will sleep better and be more satisfied from formula.

This information has shown that what society believes has an impact on mothers and breastfeeding. Why should some people’s beliefs interfere with what is best for a babies health? I am sure that adults wouldn’t like to have to wait until they got home to eat or even have their meal in a toilet. So why should it be any different for a baby?

Here is a video that supports breastfeeding in public in New Zealand!

References:

Beasley, A. & Trlin, A. (1998). Breastfeeding in New Zealand: Practice, Problems and Policy. Palmerston North, NZ:  Dunmore Press.

Human rights commission. (2008). Your rights as a breastfeeding mother. Retrieved March 27, 2011 from: http://www.hrc.co.nz/hrc_new/hrc/cms/files/documents/14-Dec-2005_16-09-38_breastfeeding_flyer_English.pdf

Kiwi Families. (2007). Breastfeeding knowledge. Retrieved March 27, 2011 from:    http://www.kiwifamilies.co.nz/Topics/Babies/Feeding-Your-Baby/Breastfeeding-Knowledge.html

The New Zealand Herald. (2011). Magazine slammed for ordering breastfeeding mums to toilet. Retrieved March 27, 2011 from: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10647454

What is the history of breastfeeding in New Zealand? What are the statistics of breastfeeding in New Zealand?

Before colonisation in a Maori society the entire iwi looked after the pregnant and breastfeeding women, the mothers may have also breastfeed a number of babies especially if the birth mother was unable to do so, this was called whāngai- ū (wet nursing). In the earlier years breastfeeding was the norm for society but by the mid 1800’s breastfeeding was seen as ‘unfashionable’ especially for urban, mid class mothers who believed it was time consuming and did not fit in with their lifestyle (National Breastfeeding Campaign, 2010).

There were two legislations that came out in the 1900’s that was believed to have a major impact on breastfeeding in Maori society. They were the Infants Act 1908 which restricted people to have an infant in their care that the female nursed for more than 7days unless she was licensed as the foster-parent. The other legislation was The Native Land Act 1909 which put an end to customary Maori adoption. These laws were believed to have directly demoralized whāngai-ū (wet nursing) and whāngai, which is an adoption process within the Maori culture where other family members parent an infant and can include breastfeeding. (National Breastfeeding campaign, 2010).

In the 1900’s the belief that breastfeeding was ‘unfashionable’ disappeared. This was partly because of Dr. Truby King’s influence who believed that mentally ill patient’s insanity was linked to poor infant nutrition. Dr. Truby King made it his mission to see that babies were breastfeed as much as possible.

In more recent year’s breastfeeding has been strongly supported by the Ministry of Health, Plunket, La Leche League (a support group founded in the US in 1964 by 7 women who wanted to make breastfeeding easier) and many other support groups. Breastfeeding is supported and promoted through campaigns, posters and New Zealand also has a breastfeeding week which is celebrated every year from the 1^st -7^th August.

Although breastfeeding is thoroughly promoted through these organisations and support groups there has been little improvement over the past ten years (since 2002) in New Zealand’s statistics of breastfeeding. Maori and Pacific people have remained in a consistently low statistic even after a number of initiatives have been set up to specifically target supporting Maori women to breastfeed (New Zealand Ministry of Health, 2002).

There are many benefits to breastfeeding and a lot of support for not only mothers who breastfeed but also for fathers to support their partner through the process of breastfeeding. So why are New Zealand’s statistics so low? Does it have to do with the way society views breastfeeding? Or are there other reasons? This is what I will be looking at in my next blog entry so until then have a good week!

References:

La Leche League New Zealand. (2011). Breastfeeding a baby. Retrieved March 19, 2011  from: http://www.lalecheleague.org.nz/

National Breastfeeding Campaign. (2010). Breastfeeding in New Zealand. Did you know? Retrieved March 16, 2011 from: http://breastfeedingnz.wordpress.com/breastfeeding-in-new-zealand-did-you-know/

New Zealand Ministry of Health. (2002). New Zealand's breastfeeding rates - statistics from breastfeeding: A Guide to Action. Retrieved March 19, 2011 from: http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/82f4780aa066f8d7cc2570bb006b5d4d/b2c10ff5e960e1edcc256dc10077c608?OpenDocument

Royal New Zealand Plunket society. (2010). Breastfeeding data. Retrieved March 19, 2011 from: http://www.plunket.org.nz/uploads/file/PDF%20documents%20for%20the%20website/Research/Breastfeeding%20Data%20-%20Analysis%20of%202004%20-%202009%20data.pdf

..Poem..

My Breastfeeding Story

Who would have thought I would do it?
I really didn't know if I could.
I desperately wanted to breastfeed,
After all, every woman should!

With help and support from my Breastbuddies,
I was as prepared as I could be
And when I gave birth to Corben,
It came so naturally to me!

The 1st suckle - no words can describe it!
I knew we were going to succeed!
And if ever I have any questions
My breastbuddies are all I need!!

We had to master feeding in public -
It was something I'd started to dread
But after we'd done it the 1st time,
The high of it went to my head!

I love breastfeeding my baby
It's the most natural thing you can do.
I feel at one with the world and with nature,
And I hope he still feeds when he's 2!!!

By Kay Redhead x