60 seconds with Chiara, infant feeding midwife
To mark World Breastfeeding Week, Chiara Zonfrilli, the new infant feeding midwife at Newham Hospital, blogs about why she chose to pursue her career and why supporting mothers to breastfeed is important.
Hello my name is Chiara and I am the new Infant feeding midwife at Newham Hospital. I am very excited about my new job! I qualified as a midwife in 2009 and quickly developed a passion for breastfeeding support and neonatal care. In 2019 I certified as an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) and have had the joy and privilege of helping thousands of breastfeeding mothers during my midwifery career. My role includes empowering women and supporting them with evidence-based information to individualise their care and support them through their unique path of building and nurturing a satisfying relationship and bond with their baby. I do this in a non- judgemental way regardless of the method of feeding chosen. I aim to answer any questions and give as much information as I can to help women make informed choices about infant feeding.
Evidence shows that breastfeeding is good for mothers and best for babies. Here are some of the reasons why breastfeeding is best for baby:
- Breastfeeding provides milk just as the baby needs it.
- Breastfeeding is the best possible protection against infection.
- Breastfed babies are much less likely to have allergic diseases.
- Breastfed babies are less likely to be obese.
- Research has shown breastfed babies have higher IQs.
And here are a few of the reasons why breastfeeding is best for mum:
- The uterus contracts more quickly after birth, reducing the recovery period.
- The hormone they secrete while breastfeeding makes them feel calm, peaceful, and relaxed.
- Women who have breastfed are less likely to develop cancer of the breasts and ovaries.
The reality? It’s not always so easy and perfect as it appears in magazines and books! It can be challenging at the beginning, it’s like dancing.
“Dancing requires practice. The two of you may like each other and like the rhythm of the music, but not know the steps to the dance. At first you may get tangled up every time you try and have to laugh at yourselves. But once you get it right, you are a single unit: you move smoothly, without having to think about it, like on body." (Renfrew M et al., 2004)
This year the theme of World Breastfeeding Week is about supporting breastfeeding for a healthier planet.
Breastfeeding contributes positively towards planetary health – it is sustainable, ecological and good for human health.
Feeding with breastmilk substitutes the farm-to-table affects to the environment and climate due to its production, packaging, distribution and preparation methods. On the other hand, breastmilk production only requires the additional food that a mother needs to consume, therefore using fewer natural resources and resulting in almost no waste.
Breastfeeding is one of the best investments for saving infant lives and improving the health, social and economic development of individuals and nations.
Together, we can protect, promote and support breastfeeding for the health of the planet and its people! How will you take action this year?