The mysteries of breastfeeding

“Breast milk is a fascinating biological system, able to adapt to the needs of the infant over time, explains Professor Céline Fischer Fumeaux, neonatologist and head of the CHUV’s Lactarium. We also know that the composition of milk adjusts to the biological sex of the newborn, but we do not know exactly how.” The exhibition on breast milk is born from a collaboration between the Institute of Humanities in Medicine and the CHUV’s Woman-Mother-Child Department. Initially based in the maternity hospital, the Mleko project, meaning milk in Polish, also includes photographs and interviews by the artist Jagoda Wisniewska. To reflect the complexity of breastfeeding and the unique dimension of each experience, it was essential to go talk to women,” says Laurence Monnais—Full professor of the history of medicine and public health at the Institute of Humanities in Medicine. The exhibition combines scientific knowledge with everyday experience. “The goal is to address different sensibilities in order to highlight the diversity of postures with regard to breastfeeding without categorizing them.”

A therapeutic use

This approach has proved indispensable in view of the degree of intimacy of the practice. It is also in line with the scientific reality of the subject. “There are still many unknowns about breastfeeding,” explains Céline Fischer Fumeaux, neonatologist and head of the CHUV’s Lactarium. Breast milk, in particular, does not have a clear regulatory status in Switzerland, unlike blood and blood products, for example, which are classified as “therapeutic products.” Breast milk is currently the subject of international debate on whether it should be considered a therapeutic product, food, or otherwise. The CHUV’s Lactarium, which collects and processes surplus breast milk from women who wish to donate it to hospitalized newborns, chose to collaborate in this strict process to guarantee its quality, says Céline Fischer Fumeaux. It is then distributed to hospitalized infants with particular vulnerabilities. For these patients, human milk is a valuable treatment.”

The impact of the social situation 

The health benefits and economic and ecological promise of breast milk should not, however, overshadow the reality of many women who cannot breastfeed. “In a context where mothers often face many pressures, it is important to denaturalize the practice of breastfeeding and to remember that it is a social practice influenced by various historical, political, and economic factors,” adds Laurence Monnais. For example, the historian cites studies that have shown that African-American women tend to breastfeed less because they lack confidence in doctors who tend to minimize their concerns in a context of systemic racism. These women are also less comfortable breastfeeding publicly, as the black woman’s body is often over-erotized. 

Céline Fischer Fumeaux adds that the social situation in which women find themselves directly impacts the experience of breastfeeding. “Inequality, insecurity or being a single or isolated mother can make breastfeeding difficult.” In contrast, the co-parent plays a significant role in ensuring this type of nutrition over time. “Studies show that the involvement of the co-parent, their support and help in other types of care doubles the chances of breastfeeding for the first six months of the child, and increases the satisfaction of both parents.” And when breastfeeding is not possible, or not desired, Céline Fischer Fumeaux would like to remind us that adequate alternatives exist and that infant formula is reliable in Switzerland. We need to consider and support all situations, regardless of the mode of nutrition. The goal is to provide safe and suitable food for each child while respecting maternal and parental choice and constraints.”