| My involvement with La Leche League in Paraguay |
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Pushpa is originally from Malaysia, but she has followed her husband to his native country, Paraguay. In this interesting and detailed articles she tells us about her involvement with La Leche League and other activities in favour of breastfeeding. Thank you Pushpa !!!
My daughter Lisa Gayatri once asked me whether I regretted coming to Paraguay, leaving my family, friends and my job in Malaysia. I told her “No”. Marrying her dad, having her and her brother, a new country, a new language has been one of the best things ever happened to me. It provided me with challenges and opportunities that I would not have experienced otherwise.
Gayatri was born in Malaysia and when we came to Paraguay in February 1994 she was 5 ½ months old. My son Jiva was born in Asuncion, Paraguay. I had breastfed them both exclusively for the first half of the year and continued to breastfeed for more than a year. However I was luckier with Jiva because when he was 1 year and 1 month Manuel, my husband, read in the papers about La Leche League (LLL) Latin American Regional Workshop held here. That was in August 1996. I contacted them and I found the support that enabled me to breastfeed Jiva beyond his second year.
Even though initially I did not participate actively in the monthly LLL meetings, I enjoyed the quiet support of other mothers breastfeeding openly, talking and sharing their experiences. I found that it was all right to listen to how I felt and to respect my son’s needs to continue to nurse and not worry about what was being said, that he was too old to still be breastfed at 1 ½, at 2…. It was different with my daughter as I suddenly weaned her when I found myself pregnant. It was then that I realized that correct information and positive support and environment are necessary for breastfeeding success. La Leche League provides both and I was very happy when I was invited to become a Leader applicant in August 1998.
In October 2000 I was accredited as a LLL Leader (counselor) and in early 2001, I became a member of LLL’s Renewal Team. As part of the team, I traveled frequently abroad to meetings. This initiative lasted for 2 years as we worked on coping with changing times to adapt LLL traditional activities in new and different ways. It was exciting to think beyond the box, to meet leaders from different parts of the world, learn and share experiences, understanding the challenges that all face in their work of supporting mothers in breastfeeding.
At the same time this meant I was away from my children and I could not have done it without Manuel’s, the children’s and my mother-in-law’s support. It was also around this time that I found attending regular LLL meetings difficult. It clashed with my children’s after school activities. Since we always say Family First, I decided to try volunteering at the maternal infant hospital close to my house.
In August 2001 I began volunteering on a weekly basis at a hospital close to my house. I helped mothers correct their breastfeeding position, helped newborns latch on and shared with mothers and visitors at the maternity ward on the importance of breastfeeding. Although I started with the mothers, I got to know the hospital staff, organize World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) at the hospital the following year and this led naturally to others involved in breastfeeding support. This was really wonderful and powerful when dedicated like-minded people involved with breastfeeding support teamed together. We formed a committee, La Leche League leaders, doctors, nurses, and Ministry of Health staff to organize WBW for Paraguay from 2003 onwards.
Soon I found myself involved in other activities, all breastfeeding related like editor of the WABA (World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action) Mother Support E-Newsletter (www.waba.org.my/whatwedo/gims/index.htm), working in a poor urban committee with Parhupar (www.parhupar.org.py) and in the WBW committee and the Breastfeeding Committee at another hospital, Hospital Cruz Roja (HCR), the first Baby Friendly Hospital in Paraguay.
I felt more supported at HCR working together with Dr.Mireya Ramirez, a retired pediatrician who is the Breastfeeding Coordinator. The committee meets fortnightly and we discuss how to improve breastfeeding at this hospital. l visit and talk to mothers waiting for the doctors, help with positioning at the maternity wards etc.
Then in June 2007 feeling that more could be done, I suggested Dr. Mireya that we start a Mother’s Club that meets once a month. We realized that all we needed was a room and support from the nurses and doctors. In July 2007, the Club de Madres of Hospital Cruz Roja held its first meeting. We use a consulting room at the pediatric department and mothers are notified via posters. Mothers coming to the medical check up with their one week old, 1 month, 2 months were invited to the meeting.
It was not easy at first as mothers were afraid of losing their turns with the doctors until they realized that they would not. When mothers discovered that they could share their personal experiences, they enjoyed the meetings as it helped them share, learn and feel supported. Slowly mothers, grandmothers, aunts, fathers come to the meetings. So far we have celebrated 2 WBW, 2 year-end festivals and our first anniversary. The doctors and nurses join us at these meetings sharing their experiences as well. The club is facilitated by LLL Leaders. Being a part of La Leche League means that I was supported when I needed it and now I am the one that can provide that for others. My belief is that every mother given the choice wants the best for their babies and their families. For me this means breastfeeding from the beginning yet realize that lack of information, positive support and respect for women and their needs often result in a poor start or failure at breastfeeding. Whether women stay at home or work outside their homes, the right environment should be there for breastfeeding to be an enjoyable experience.
Pushpa, Malaysian married to Manuel, a Paraguayan. Mother to Lisa Gayatri, 15 and Jiva Jose, 13. LLL Leader since 2000 February 10th. 2009, Asuncion, Paraguay |
