{"id":1722,"date":"2018-08-13T17:59:36","date_gmt":"2018-08-13T09:59:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.hk\/blog\/?p=1722"},"modified":"2020-06-01T17:56:28","modified_gmt":"2020-06-01T09:56:28","slug":"challenges-and-benefits-of-breastfeeding-in-hong-kong","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.hk\/blog\/challenges-and-benefits-of-breastfeeding-in-hong-kong\/","title":{"rendered":"Challenges and benefits of breastfeeding in Hong Kong"},"content":{"rendered":"

Just three months ago, a group of mothers staged <\/span>a flashmob protest<\/span><\/a> over prejudice against breastfeeding in public spaces in Central. This demonstration best exemplifies the conundrum that local moms are facing. Despite well-known \u2018breast is best\u2019 advocacy, Hong Kong, one of the more developed cities in Asia, still has a low breastfeeding rate.<\/span><\/p>\n

In this article by <\/span>Pacific Prime Hong Kong<\/span><\/a>, we are going to provide you with the lowdown on challenges Hong Kong mothers are currently facing, and what specific benefits breastfeeding can bring to moms and their babies.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"Individual<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Challenges faced by Hong Kong moms<\/span><\/h2>\n

Despite the government\u2019s efforts in promoting breastfeeding in recent years – such as requiring commercial and retail sites to include lactation and baby care facilities, and launching a voluntary code on the marketing of formula milk – less than 30% of local mothers continue to breastfeed when their baby turns six months of age, according to a 2016 survey conducted by the Family Health Service and Department of Health.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yet mothers are not to blame. As a matter of fact, there are a number of factors that might contribute to the current situation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Short maternity leave duration<\/span><\/h3>\n

Under the existing Employment Ordinance, pregnant employees are only entitled to 10 weeks of maternity leave. They have to resume work afterward, and, more often than not, can\u2019t find the time and space to pump breast milk for later use. Consequently, they might resort to formula milk for the sake of convenience. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Lack of professional healthcare support<\/span><\/h3>\n

There simply aren\u2019t enough resources allocated to offer breastfeeding guidance to new mothers. Currently, there are only around 100 nurses in local hospitals who are certified lactation consultants. Understandably, they can only spend a very limited time with each patient, and once the mothers are discharged from the hospital, they can\u2019t go back again to seek the assistance of those nurses. <\/span><\/p>\n

Inadequate breastfeeding facilities <\/span><\/h3>\n

Another 2016 survey shows that over 95 percent of Hongkongers believe existing facilities for breastfeeding in public places are inadequate. As a result, mothers might have to breastfeed in public toilets, which are by no means a proper place for such activity. While a nursing cloth seems to be a feasible solution, it can\u2019t provide a private breastfeeding environment.<\/span><\/p>\n

Benefits of breastfeeding<\/span><\/h2>\n

One may ask, \u201cWhy insist on breastfeeding if it\u2019s so inconvenient? A bottle of powdered milk can easily save you from all the troubles and hassles.\u201d Apparently, there are myriad advantages for moms and infants in breastfeeding that make formula pale in comparison.<\/span><\/p>\n

Benefits for babies<\/span><\/h3>\n