IDAI Promotes Support Chain for Breastfeeding Mothers

Head of the ASI IDAI Task Force Dr. dr. Naomi Esthernita F.D., Sp.A, Subsp.Neo.(K) (Photo by Bambang Eros VOI)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Pediatric Association (IDAI) is promoting a warm support chain campaign for breastfeeding mothers to ensure that mothers receive continuous support in providing breast milk (ASI) to babies during the first 1,000 days of life.

The Chair of the ASI IDAI Task Force, Dr. Naomi Esthernita F.D., Sp.A, Subsp.Neo.(K), said support for breastfeeding mothers needs to involve various parties, ranging from families, health workers, work environments to the government.

"We sow, later we will harvest it. So we invest with action. Then the policies that we have to work together," said Naomi at the celebration of World Breastfeeding Week 2026 which was attended online from Jakarta, Saturday.

According to Naomi, a warm support chain for breastfeeding mothers includes husbands or partners, family members, doctors, midwives, health workers, dietitians, lactation consultants, employers, trade unions, peer supporters, and policymakers.

He said the government had an important role in creating policies and regulations that could protect, support, and facilitate breastfeeding mothers.

One of them is through the provision of comfortable and adequate lactation rooms for nursing mothers in public places.

In addition, the government needs to strengthen provisions regarding the marketing code of formula milk and maternal protection in the workplace. Campaigns and education on the importance of breastfeeding also need to continue to be improved.

The government, continued Naomi, also needs to provide quality health services for mothers and babies and increase the capacity of health workers in providing information and assistance from pregnancy to children aged two years or more.

Health Systems Must Support Exclusive Breastfeeding

Naomi emphasized the importance of a strong health system to support exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a baby's life.

"Hospitals must have a system that supports and protects breastfeeding mothers," said the doctor who graduated from the University of Indonesia.

He said hospitals could implement baby-friendly hospital initiatives and provide competent lactation counselors to accompany mothers in providing exclusive breastfeeding.

According to Naomi, support from partners, families, and communities is also no less important. In addition to helping care for babies and create a comfortable atmosphere, partners and family members can provide emotional support to mothers during breastfeeding.

Support at work is also an important part of the success of breastfeeding. Employers need to ensure that women get their rights so that they can balance work with breastfeeding activities.

Naomi said the provision of paid maternity leave and the provision of decent facilities for milking and storing breast milk can help improve the welfare of mothers while supporting the sustainability of breastfeeding.

Many Mothers Stop Breastfeeding after Returning to Work

Naomi revealed that there are still mothers who have not received adequate support and assistance during the breastfeeding period. One of the challenges faced is the demands of work after mothers return to work.

"This is a lot of people who stop giving breast milk after work. So there is research saying that 45 percent of the failure of exclusive breast milk is because they go back to work," he said.

Therefore, the warm support chain campaign for breastfeeding mothers is directed to connect various parties at every level to create an environment conducive for mothers to provide breast milk as needed.

Continuous support for breastfeeding mothers and infants is considered an important part of improving maternal and child health, as well as supporting children's growth and development from the beginning of life.