There isn't a Hong Kong hospital that qualifies as being truly baby-friendly, claims Patricia Ip Lai-sheung of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative Hong Kong Association. To earn such a designation, a hospital must implement 10 steps to promote breastfeeding, as outlined by Unicef and promoted in Hong Kong since the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative was set up locally in 1992. They include helping mothers start breastfeeding within 30 minutes of birth, encouraging breastfeeding on demand, routinely training staff in breastfeeding techniques, practising rooming-in (babies being allowed to stay with their mothers 24 hours a day), and encouraging breastfeeding except when it's medically impossible. The Hospital Authority has a Breastfeeding Promotion Committee to co-ordinate breastfeeding practices in public hospitals, and most of Hong Kong's private hospitals claim to have active breastfeeding policies. However, an appeal to mothers published in the Post by the La Leche League, a breastfeeding advocacy group, brought both praise and criticism of hospitals' efforts. Jenny Buck, who gave birth at Queen Mary Hospital two years ago, says staff encouraged rooming-in, but seemed more comfortable with bottle feeding - perhaps because it was more easily measurable. 'They can see exactly how much babies are drinking. Post-natal nursing staff are anxious to tick all the boxes that show the baby is progressing as expected.' Another mother says she felt there was not enough information on looking after premature babies at public hospitals, despite the fact that breast milk is very important in boosting babies' immune systems. 'Although it was an excellent hospital, and although those doctors do believe in the benefits of breastfeeding, I felt the nurses did not relay the information enough to mums.' Other mothers were more positive. One who gave birth at a public hospital three weeks ago said 95 per cent of mothers had their babies staying with them and although she was told about the available formula milk, the nurses suggested she try to avoid using it. Antonia Cable, who has given birth to two babies at the Queen Mary Hospital, says: 'With my first baby, four years ago, I was very conscious of the milk trolley being rattled around at all hours. The staff were very keen to give my baby formula milk. My feelings were that despite all the pro-breastfeeding info I'd had before, the staff weren't totally convinced. 'Two years later, with my second baby, it seemed much better. I didn't notice the milk trolley and I wasn't even offered formula,' she says. Lily Huang, who also gave birth at Queen Mary last year, says she was given the option of rooming-in or leaving her baby in the nursery while she rested. 'I had my baby next to me at all times - except for the second night, when she wouldn't stop crying. They strongly encouraged breastfeeding and there were classes to teach you how to do it.'
