THE Footscray and Yarraville branch of the Australian Breast Feeding Association will celebrate National Mothering Week from 8 to 14 May.
The branch’s annual event takes on the theme of mothering in changing times.
Group leader Karen Ingram said the week was organised to acknowledge the importance of mothers in the community.
“Mothers need to be reassured that regardless of whether they are a stay-at-home mum or a mother in the paid workforce, the job they do is priceless and valued by the community and their families,” she said.
Ms Ingram said anecdotal evidence suggested these days that men took a greater role in child care, and eased the burden mothers traditionally carried alone – but that mothers still faced many challenges.
She said myths about being a “good” mother still circulated in society, which sometimes went against a mother’s instincts.
Ms Ingram said one of the most damaging myths was that a “good” baby slept through the night.
“There are many unrealistic expectations of life with a new baby,” she said.
“This is especially relevant in the quest for a young baby to sleep through the night.
“Babies need to be breast fed through the night. They have small tummies and breast milk is easily digested.”
She said it was natural for a baby to wake up hungry and expect to be fed.
Ms Ingram, also a breastfeeding counsellor, disagreed with programs that suggested babies should be forced into a sleeping routine.
“Some mothers believe, and have been told, that they need to introduce routines into the lives of their babies from a young age.
“There is a big movement towards sleep schools and teaching babies to sleep.
“One routine in particular is the feed–play–sleep routine.”
She said the routine required mothers to wake their baby if it fell asleep during breastfeeding, play with the child and then place it in a crib to sleep, so the infant can get used to falling asleep on its own.
“Any mother who has tried this agrees that it definitely goes against their instinct.”
Ms Ingram said for today’s mothers to carry on the job of raising their children, it was necessary for them to rely on their instinct, information and support.
“Every mother wants the best for their children,” she said.
For more information on this important subject contact www.breastfeeding.asn.au or 9314 9882
