Helping mothers help themselves

Her Royal Highness Princess Srirasmi, Royal Consort to His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, recently paid a visit to Siam Denso Manufacturing to examine the breast feeding corner the company has set up for its nursing mothers.

Siam Denso has been collaborating with the Thai Breastfeeding Centre for the last seven years and has gained a reputation for successfully managing and supporting pregnant workers and breastfeeding mums as part of the Happy Workplace project.

The company also organises a range of other activities including training for mums-to-be, providing nurses to examine the breast, designing canteen menus that benefit breastfeeding, as well as providing peer groups for working mothers to share their experiences and support each other. 

Today, 127 mothers are using the company’s breastfeeding corner. All are encouraged to breastfeed for at least six months then continue to give the breast along with other nutrition until the child reaches the age of two.

Manaschanok Saikul, a worker with Siam Denso, is delighted that she’s been able to breastfeed for three years. Mali Khamchaona, who was worried she wouldn’t have enough milk to feed her infant, says that thanks to the dietary recommendations of her peers, she has more breast milk. Rojana Srisom says she is confident that her child is strong and healthy and Wanwisa Warawut has overcome her problems with breastfeeding and is now able to nurture her child. 

Yukihiro Kato, president of Siam Denso Manufacturing, says that the breastfeeding corner provides comfort to the working mothers. The company is well aware that mothers who cannot take care of their babies all the time, worry about their children’s health. Being able to retreat to a private corner along with peer support allows them to pump their breast milk and feed it later to their infants.

“The company want to see every workers’ child grow up strongly and healthy and have a bright future,” Kato said. 

The Princess also presided over the opening of the Denso Eco Park, a centre that showcases how business and environment can co-exist in harmony.