Record-Setting Numbers at Singapore’s 2015 Breastfeeding Challenge

The breastfeeding movement in Singapore reached new heights last week with another successful Breastfeeding Challenge

Few things are more inspiring than mamas coming together to prove a point. Last week, over 150 mamas – 154 to be precise, a Singapore record! – gathered for a group breastfeeding session to demonstrate its health benefits and encourage higher breastfeeding numbers in Singapore.

The event started in response to alarming statistics that revealed only 30% of Singaporean mums continued exclusively breastfeeding two months after giving birth (the World Health Organisation recommends exclusively breastfeeding for at least six months, and by comparison other developed countries in Asia, such as South Korea, are closer to 50%). Whether these numbers are a reflection of tough maternity leave policies or cultural expectations is one area to be considered, but this event was all about celebrating the positive!

Sponsored by Thomson Medical, Phillips Avent and Spring Maternity, the event’s timing coincided with World Breastfeeding Month during the Rise & Shine Festival at Suntec Convention Centre. Leading lactation consultant Wong Boh Boi, the Senior ParentCraft Educator at Thomson Medical Centre, was present to encourage the mamas in attendance and provide helpful tips and insights for their breastfeeding journey.

“Breastfeeding is extremely beneficial for both mothers and their babies,” Mrs Wong said, including “providing optimum nutrition, improving immunity and protecting against allergies for your baby”. For mamas, benefits include helping the uterus shrink back to its normal size after giving birth, and decreasing the risk of breast cancer.

The gathering included a truly diverse group of women from a variety of family and cultural backgrounds. The event will be entered in the Singapore Book of Records as the largest breastfeeding event in Singapore history, though they will try to surpass it next year! Thomson has spearheaded the annual event to encourage ever more mamas to continue breastfeeding longer after birth. In the meantime, if you have questions about breastfeeding or are looking for some expert advice, mama, consider contacting their Breastfeeding Counselling centre.

Happy, peaceful latching mamas!