Medics have highlighted Bahrain’s regional leadership in maternity support as the kingdom marks World Breastfeeding Week, pointing to a network of healthcare, workplace and community initiatives designed to give mothers and babies the best possible start in life.
Observed annually from August 1 to 7, World Breastfeeding Week aims to raise awareness, strengthen breastfeeding support and improve child health worldwide.
This year’s campaign theme is ‘Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works’.
Bahrain Nursing and Midwifery Society board member Kareema Fadhul noted that this year’s theme is appropriate to the kingdom. “It means we need to scale and fortify our existing successes, like the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) at Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) and other public hospitals, which strictly follow the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding,” she said. “The Health Ministry’s National Breastfeeding Committee, which actively updates policies and trains primary healthcare nurses across all health centres, and Bahrain’s Labour Law, which grants working mothers up to six months of paid maternity leave with full pay for the first 60 days, are a robust regional standard,” she added.
Health Ministry nutritionist Dr Amina Adel highlighted Bahrain’s efforts in reinforcing support systems for breastfeeding mothers in a public awareness video this week in which she also underpinned the nutritional benefits of breast milk.
Dr Adel spoke about the ‘Breastfeeding is the Foundation of Life’ campaign, which aims to educate new mothers in co-operation with a select group of experts, including doctors, nurses, consultants and nutritionists from the public and private sectors.
While Bahrain has built a strong support system for breastfeeding mothers, experts say many women still grapple with uncertainty in the early stages of motherhood.
Ms Fadhul urged new mothers to trust their instincts to navigate breastfeeding anxiety.
According to her, problems lactating women face include perceived insufficient milk supply and conflicting cultural and family pressures.
“While Bahraini families are wonderfully supportive, well-meaning grandmothers and elders often advocate for early ‘top-ups’ with formula based on traditional customs,” Ms Fadhul told the GDN.
“This can undermine the mother’s confidence and interfere with the critical establishment of the infant’s gut microbiome and exclusive breastfeeding.”
She said one of the most common causes of anxiety among new mothers is the misconception that frequent feeding signals inadequate milk supply.
“This is often worsened by delayed initiation of skin-to-skin contact, or interrupted early feeding routines,” she said.
Among those who experienced such concerns was Austrian expatriate and teacher Michaela Linskeseder from Riffa.
“I had the feeling my baby girl wasn’t getting enough and needed support with positioning and latching. My baby did not put on weight and we ended up combo feeding (formula) until six months. Then I stopped breastfeeding,” she said.
“Based on my experience, I would advise trusting your mum gut, and to get help and educate yourself. Joining a breastfeeding community like La Leche League and meeting other mothers made a huge difference,” noted the Bahrain resident of six years.
The international non-profit organisation provides education, information and encouragement to women who wish to breastfeed.
American expatriate Andrea D, a mother living in Saar, said the early weeks of motherhood can be overwhelming and stressed the importance of seeking advice as soon as concerns arise.
“I know mothers who were pumping but not doing so effectively. But by the time they sought help, their milk supply had already been affected,” she said adding that support from La Leche League had also been beneficial.
Ms Fadhul encouraged mothers to make full use of available support networks.
“We are here to support you, not judge you,” said the SMC labour and delivery unit head. “Your baby is the best pump. If your newborn has six or more wet diapers a day and is gaining weight by their second-week paediatric check-up, your supply is perfectly adequate. Stay hydrated, eat balanced meals, and relax – cortisol inhibits the let-down reflex, while oxytocin drives it.”
She also advised mothers to abandon rigid three-hour feeding schedules. “Feed responsively – look for early hunger cues like rooting, sucking hands and rapid eye movements. Frequent feeding during the first few weeks helps establish milk supply and is not a sign of failure,” she added.
Breastfeeding provides complete early nutrition, immune protection and long-term health benefits for both infants and mothers.
However, despite early initiation significantly reducing neonatal deaths, only 47 per cent of infants under six months are exclusively breastfed worldwide, while just 48pc of newborns begin breastfeeding within their first hour of life.
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