Question #1

"In your experience or in your work, what element or component has the most effective and positive influence on supporting the breastfeeding mother?"

• There is complexity in what influences a mother to make the decision to breastfeed and to continue breastfeeding.  There are generational, cultural and environmental elements that positively influence the mother. Some elements emphasized were: traditions, religions, ethnicity, family and community.
• Direct and immediate support in mother support groups/meetings, in hospital settings, through peer counselors, midwives, a phone call, in-person encouragement, a human touch or a helping hand. 
• Getting off to a good start with breastfeeding right after the birth of the baby. When a mother has a positive experience once, the next time she will trust her body, her senses and her baby and know that breastfeeding is what is best. 
• The importance of national policy and political will.
• Prenatal and postnatal training and education.     

Question # 2

"In your opinion, what are the obstacles that hinder or impede a positive breastfeeding experience?"

• Aggressive marketing strategies by formula manufacturers
• Hospital practices that do not facilitate the initiation of breastfeeding
• The Doctor/Physician - not supporting breastfeeding in various ways
• Lack of accurate information available for the mother on and about breastfeeding
• The realities and challenges of the work environment for the employed breastfeeding mother

To quote a participant : "The reality in general is that bottlefeeding neo-culture reigns in both the world of work and home".  

Question # 3

"What do you think is the single most effective action worldwide for improving/increasing support (for the breastfeeding mother/baby)?"

• Mother Support Groups available to every mother on this earth!

Where :

-Mothers learn about their babies' feeding needs and how breastfeeding satisfies these  needs.
- Mothers will be well oriented and well informed.

The creation of mother & baby breastfeeding friendly communities and environments

Where:

- Mothers will learn to give their babies the time both need to learn to breastfeed

To quote a participant: " The cre ation of small mother support groups is the most sustainable mother support; it enables breastfeeding success to recapture a breastfeeding culture "

• Recapture and re-energize the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative

Because:.

- BFHI plays a role in improving and increasing breastfeeding support
- BFHI raises the profile of breastfeeding in the community

• Breastfeeding is a mandatory subject in schools and in universities.

Question #4

"In what way could we collaborate in order to get international recognition for the need for mother support?"

• Host a Conference
• Create partnerships with International Agencies, Governments, UNICEF, World Bank, WHO, ILO, and other agencies and institutions
• Advocate for assistance from our respective Governments and from International Organizations
• Formulate policy that supports and protects breastfeeding
• Strengthen existing regulations and laws that further our goals
• Analyze the Millennium Development Goals together
• Disseminate information together (as a group)
• Work together to see that the Initiatives and Actions of the Global Strategy are put into effect

Following the Summit , form a working group to continue these dialogues/exchanges of ideas.

To quote a participant: " We need to speak the same language until breastfeeding babies and the needs of babies and mothers get registered at every level." "