90% of mothers have enough breast milk
for their babies if they know how.
“Ninety percent of mothers produce a sufficient supply
of breast milk but lack knowledge and understanding
about breastfeeding, causing many children
to miss the opportunity of being breastfed.”
“Being a neonatology specialist allows me to experience the many wonders of breast milk.” With confidence in her eyes, this was serenely uttered by Dr
Sutheera Uerpairojkit, a pediatrician specializing in neonatology and perinatal medicine. It piques our curiosity about how she has come to be known as “Aunty Dr Sutheera,” children's favorite and a relentless, long-term champion of breastfeeding in Thailand.
- Youth idol paved her career path.
Harken back to when she was little Sutheera, she was often sick due to ‘epilepsy,’ or seizure from sudden, abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Regularly seeing a doctor, she became acquainted with pediatricians and nurses who left her with an indelible impression of the profession.
“Admiration developed after seeing the doctor time after time. I wondered why the doctor was so kind and able healing my illness. Since then, I set my mind to growing up to be a pediatrician; pediatricians were my idol.”
The inspiration that launched her medical career sounds cute, but along the way, surprises abound. At first she believed becoming a doctor called for only diligence and good grades, but those were not enough. There were sacrifices she had to make. She had to study hard, and being on call for 36 hours straight was physically draining. Overcoming the exhaustion requires stamina and effort. Finally, nothing can conquer willpower; I am a full-fledged pediatrician I have always yearned for.
- Neonatology: a discipline that dawned on her the value of ‘breast milk.’
After returning to Bangkok from a stint of serving in the province for the scholarship repayment program, Dr Sutheera was interested in pediatric neurology, matching her childhood experience in which she often saw pediatric neurologists. However, the pediatric neurology residency programs were popular, and admission required a sponsoring government hospital. These led to a shift in her career direction.
“Since I could not study pediatric neurology, I switched to my next interest, neonatology. It was not in vogue then; I liked it because I got to meet cute and clammed-up little infants.”
The sick neonate cases under her care were predominantly newborns in critical conditions. They required intricate and meticulous specialized care. Most mothers who gave birth in private hospitals usually consulted with the same doctors about health care and mandatory vaccines for their children, affording her to witness the neonates’ development and growth from the day they were born.
“I had the experience to compare breastfed with formula-fed babies. From my perspective, they have entirely different health trajectories. Breastfed infants are healthy; they rarely get sick. On the other hand, formula-fed infants, even with minor weather changes, easily have a runny nose, cough, and fever. I was interested in this issue, so I further studied it.
- The Miracle of Breast Milk: Coupling hospital experience with the maternal role.
During the time she was fascinated with the benefits of breastfeeding, Dr Sutheera was welcoming her newborns. She was determined to breastfeed all her children as long as she and her children wanted.
Her direct personal experience and perusing new research studies imbue her with an understanding of the essence of breast milk.
“In the past, working mothers missed the chance to breastfeed their children because there was no good quality breast pump. Lack of knowledge in preserving breast milk was also an important factor. That led most mothers to feed their children with infant formulas made from cow’s milk. Many children became allergic, necessitating a formula change which increased expenses and was a financial burden to the family.”
When asked about cow’s milk allergy that is common nowadays, Dr. Sutheera explained that each mammal produces milk specifically for their offspring's growth and development. Nutrients found in milk from each mammalian species are different. For example, the proteins in cow’s milk differ from the ones in human breast milk. When ingesting cow’s milk, the body will produce antibodies against the foreign proteins, causing an allergy.
Dr. Sutheera also told us about a miracle that happened to a critically ill newborn whose condition improved and recovered after receiving breast milk.
“I once had a premature newborn patient in critical condition from a congenital infection. The baby was in a dire state. We provided help, treated with medications and a ventilator, and kept watch closely in the ICU.
Luckily, the baby had breastfed. And we had an expert from abroad who advised us on how to give milk to a sick infant who could not breastfeed. The solution was to feed the baby with colostrum. So, nurses squeezed the colostrum from the mother and smeared it in the baby’s mouth every hour. This boosted the immune system tremendously.
From being in critical condition with acidosis and virulent bacterial infection that could lead to death, we could remove the ventilator within 24 hours after the baby received colostrum. Shortly after, the child was able to be breastfed. That was truly amazing, considering the rapid recovery time.”
- First-time moms are anxious about their breast milk supply. What should they do?
Dr. Sutheera said every first-time mother is anxious and worried about the lack of breast milk or low milk supply. However, 90% of mothers have enough milk for their babies if they have the know-how. We can stimulate or express breast milk; the more stimulation, the more breast milk production, and vice versa. You have to learn how you can produce sufficient breast milk.
“If you’re worried about the lack of breast milk, our team of pediatricians and nurses from the Breastfeeding Clinic (Pediatric Center) at MedPark Hospital can advise and teach you about the techniques on how to make babies suck fast, suck frequently, and suck properly. You will also learn about breastfeeding attachment and position. If you request, we will also provide recommendations on how to pump and store breast milk and how to create your stockpile.
“In case your milk dried up because you go out to work and rarely pump your milk, we have relactation tips, breast milk stimulant, and power pump techniques for you to produce sufficient milk supply. If your baby is addicted to the bottle, refuses the breast, or is breastfed and bottle-fed alternately, the Clinic can provide a consultation if you want to switch to breastfeeding only.”
Another recommendation is that choosing to deliver at a hospital that supports breastfeeding and avoiding giving formula milk without medical indication can lead to successful breastfeeding.
- On the Move Lifestyle
When asked about leisure activities, it turns out that Dr. Sutheera is a mover (literally moving) who is rarely inactive. Passionate about sports in her youth, she used to play competitive badminton, trained with Thai national badminton team coaches, and almost made the Thai national team. With advancing age, she now chooses simple activities like jogging, running marathons, and trail running. She often goes for a run with her family. But if the dust levels are unsafe, she switches to running indoors on a treadmill with her husband.
Asked what other interests she would pursue if not trained as a doctor, the answer was quite interesting.
“Besides being a physician, I want to learn about computers and technology. Everything wasn’t this advanced back then; now, they can create things for the world and value for anyone too.”
Dr Sutheera Uerpairojkit
A pediatrician specializing in neonatal & perinatal medicine
Doctor profile
