Breast is best.

That is the message the Bermuda Breastfeeding Resource Centre (BBRC) strives to get across to new and prospective mothers through its free counselling and allied services.

Of course, there's nothing new about breast-feeding, but the pace of life and ready availability of alternative methods of feeding infants in sophisticated societies resulted in a marked decline in what was once taken for granted.

Now, however, there is a renewed interest in breast-feeding, which groups like the BBRC are only too happy to reinforce.

"We give support and information to breast-feeding mothers and pregnant women who are considering breast-feeding,'' its president and secretary, Mrs. Susan Kessaram, explained. "We operate a daily, free phone-in service, and on Thursdays we run a help centre by appointment in Hamilton, where we give assistance with breast-feeding questions, and talk with mothers.'' While breast-feeding is a perfectly natural process, it not necessarily an automatically easy one -- a fact that women don't always realise.

"Almost all women can breastfeed,'' Mrs. Kessaram assured,"but they may find that the first few weeks or even months are a difficult time of adjustment.

All breast-feeding problems are temporary and can be resolved.'' Even so, while some mothers are highly motivated to breast-feed, no matter what obstacles they face, others are uncomfortable about the idea for a variety of reasons. Here the BBRC provided assurance and support.

"We feel that whether a woman does or does not breast-feed is for her to decide,'' Mrs. Kessaram said. "We certainly don't want her to feel guilty or a failure if, for whatever reason, she chooses not to. It is much better to bottlefeed happily than breast-feed with resentment.'' And just why is breast-feeding so highly recommended when other methods are available? "It is a good foundation for a child,'' Mrs. Kessaram explained.

"Colostrum and breast milk contain cells which guard against infections and allergies throughout the child's life. It also provides natural immunities, helps protect against heart disease in later life, and promotes better jaw development.'' Breast milk is also clean and safe. There is no risk of infection while it is being made, and it is always the right temperature.

From a convenience standpoint, breast-feeding is unsurpassed, particularly when travelling or visiting. There is no formula to buy and mix, no bottles to sterilise, no special storage or heating facilities required.

In addition to helping a mother to bond with her baby, it also assists her body to return to normal much more quickly after pregnancy.

Not surprisingly, myths and misconceptions have sprung up around the subject of breast-feeding, which the BBRC is happy to help dispel.

One popular fallacy is that it is possible to have quantity but not quality breast milk.

"Not true,'' said Mrs. Kessaram. "What happens is that a woman may have a very heavy flow of foremilk, or first milk, which is low fat and very thin.

The baby fills up on this very quickly and therefore doesn't get a chance to work on the breast long enough to get the hind milk, which is thicker and richer. So the baby who just gets the first milk feeds frequently -- every hour or so -- and gets gassy and crampy.'' Warning signs of this problem include the baby gulping irregularly, being very fussy and "colicky''.

"The problem is a common one and very easily dealt with if you recognise the symptoms,'' Mrs. Kessaram explained. "It has nothing at all to do with quality.'' Another is that breast-feeding mothers must avoid specific foods.

"Some mothers believe they have to eliminate a wide variety of foods in order to breast-feed, but that is not true. Almost all foods can be tolerated,'' Mrs. Kessaram said. "We tell women, `Start out by eating a well- balanced diet, including fresh fruit and vegetables. If there seems to be a problem, try eliminating some things but not all things.'' Turning to the difficulties experienced in the first stages of breastfeeding, Mrs. Kessaram said one of the earliest was latching on. "The main reason women give up is because the baby is not latching on properly,'' she said.

"Not only can this cause soreness, but also the baby is not nursing properly.'' Mrs. Debra Davis Dixon, vice-president, treasurer, and founder member of BBRC, agreed.

"A lot of women complain that it hurts them for a few weeks, but that's pretty natural. It takes time to get used to breast-feeding. Very few women have no difficulties. The women who have none at all are rare. There are many solutions to most problems.'' In fact, it was because Mrs. Dixon and Mrs. Kessaram couldn't get answers to their problems, or support when they needed it as first-time mothers, that they decided to form the Bermuda Breastfeeding Resource Centre in 1987.

Since that time the organisation has received over 2,000 calls from pregnant and nursing mothers.

A registered charity, its members are women who have breastfed their children.

Volunteer counsellors have all undergone a special period of study before qualifying.

In addition to verbal and practical assistance, the BBRC provides free literature on request, and also rents a variety of portable breast pumps for a weekly deposit of $20 plus a $5 per week rental fee.

"We are the only organisation to do this,'' Mrs. Kessaram said. "The pumps are especially useful for mothers of premature babies, who must remain in hospital while the mother goes home. By using the pump, the mother can still supply her baby with breast milk.'' Mrs. Kessaram said the rental service was particularly valuable because pumps were not only expensive to buy in Bermuda, but a mother might need to experiment with several types in order to find the one most suitable to her needs.

Pumps were also of benefit to working mothers because they allowed them to express and store milk for their children which could be used in their absence.

"The BBRC feels it has a special role to play in helping mothers who wish to continue breast-feeding after they return to work,'' Mrs. Kessaram said.

The registered charity keeps current on all breast-feeding-related issues through active links with various sources, including Britain's National Childbirth Trust, the breastfeeding clinic of the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada, and the Australian Nursing Mothers Association.

continued on Page 25 Breast-feeding From Page 23 "We are a very well-rounded organisation,'' Mrs. Kessaram noted.

It also works hard to promote general education about breast-feeding.

To this end, it brought in Dr. Jack Newman, head of the breast-feeding clinic at the Hospital for Sick Children, last year to address medical personnel and the public.

"This we did in conjunction with King Edward Hospital. Our aim was to increase awareness about breastfeeding in the community, and to address some of the issues and misconceptions which have come up over the years,'' Mrs.

Kessaram explained. "There was a big turn-out at the public meeting, and I understand that the medical community was very pleased with the project. There is a lot of interest in breastfeeding here.'' Because of last year's enthusiastic response, the BBRC is planning to repeat the exercise again this year with another expert.

The BBRC phone-in service (tel. 293-1689) operates from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

daily, and the Thursday help centre is open by appointment only from 1 p.m. to 2.30 p.m. Both services are free.

MUMS AND BABES -- Members of the Bermuda Breastfeeding Resource Centre management committee (back row, from left) Kurte Loescher, Debra Dixon Smith, (front row, from left) Paula Kelly with daughter Ailish, and Susan Kessaram, with daughter Jenna.