By: Faith Chen
New mothers at Belau National Hospital are voicing growing concerns over the hospital’s breastfeeding policy, which mandates that infants are to be fed exclusively breastmilk unless medically required otherwise. The policy explicitly states that glucose, water, or any substitute products will not be given to newborns in the hospital unless medically warranted, and promotional materials for infant foods other than breastmilk are banned in all Ministry of Health facilities.
A young 17-year-old mother, who gave birth to a
baby boy six months ago, shared her struggles with this policy. She expressed frustration over being pressured to breastfeed despite her body’s inability to supply sufficient milk immediately after labor. “The specialist told me I have to think that I can supply milk, even though I know I can’t. It’s all in the mind, but it stressed me out after birth,” she said, highlighting the emotional toll of the policy.
Another mother also recounted the difficulty of breastfeeding her newborn son following a C-section, citing challenges with low milk supply and the physical hardship of pumping milk every two hours. “It was really hard to keep up with pumping after surgery,” she explained, questioning the hospital’s strict stance on exclusive breastfeeding.
The rising concerns reflect an urgent need among new mothers for flexibility and support in feeding their infants, especially when physical or medical challenges inhibit breastfeeding. Hospital staff emphasize the health benefits of exclusive breastfeeding,
aligned with the Ministry of Health’s Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, which aims to promote breastfeeding as the healthiest option for infants and to reduce the risks of preventable childhood illnesses.
However, the emotional and physical realities faced by mothers recovering from childbirth have prompted calls for the Belau National Hospital administration to review its breastfeeding policy and provide greater support or alternatives for mothers struggling to meet the exclusive breastfeeding guidelines.
As these voices grow louder, the hospital and Ministry of Health are urged to balance the promotion of breastfeeding with empathy and care for mothers’ diverse experiences, ensuring the wellbeing of both mother and child during this critical postpartum period. Attempts to reach hospital administration regarding the extent of implementing this policy were very unsuccessful.
