Mothers’ great companion on the journey of breastfeeding

Breast milk is a precious gift from mothers to babies. As recommended by the World Health Organization, infants for the first six months of life should be exclusively breastfed and receive breastfeeding continuously for up to two years of age or beyond. Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Queen Mary Hospital (QMH) are accredited as baby-friendly hospitals and several other hospitals have demonstrated the commitment towards becoming a baby-friendly hospital. Hospitals undertake different initiatives to provide comprehensive support to mothers, and assist them in breastfeeding and keeping the newborns healthy.

Volunteers of QMH handmade cute wool hats for babies to keep warm, and nursing covers for mothers to facilitate breastfeeding in public.

Informative and interactive booth for expectant mothers

Apart from antenatal health talks on breastfeeding, booths or consultation groups are set up in Obstetrics & Gynaecology Clinics with lactation consultants introducing the benefits of breastfeeding and support provided by the hospital. They also teach visiting expectant mothers skills of breastfeeding using props and address their enquiries. Interactive and dynamic learning facilitates mothers-to-be to gain knowledge in breastfeeding and establish trust with the consultants.

Nine QMH lactation consultants, who are also mothers themselves, composed an informative guide for new mothers on lactation skills and experience.

Mothers and infants in the same room for flexible breastfeeding time

Mothers share the same room with their babies after delivery. They can breastfeed anytime with the support from lactation consultants and midwives, who assess the condition of mothers, give guidance in breastfeeding such as hand expressing and baby’s suckling. They also teach shoulder and hand massage. Lactation consultants of United Christian Hospital even massage lactating mothers to improve the flow of milk.

Hearty fish soup to boost milk supply

There are breastfeeding practising classes every afternoon in the postnatal ward of QMH. With the guidance from midwives and peer support from other breastfeeding mothers, participating mothers can gain confidence in breastfeeding. Moreover, the hospital provides nourishing fish soup for lunch to boost their milk supply, and recipes of soup that help increase milk production.

Massage by midwives is a form of relaxation for mothers, during which they can also enjoy some parental time with their newborn.

Consultative support from hotline and clinic

Discharged mothers who encounter challenges in breastfeeding, such as blocked ducts, can call breastfeeding hotline or visit breastfeeding clinic for consultation.