Breast Milk and the Vision of Midwifery: Excitement at the 1st National Breastfeeding Symposium in Üsküdar

With the "1st National Üsküdar University Breastfeeding Symposium," the Üsküdar University First Touch to a Miracle Club brought healthcare professionals and students together under a scientific umbrella. At the symposium held at the NP Health Campus and attended by many expert academics, the strategic importance of breastfeeding for mother and baby health, current counseling approaches, and the critical role of the midwifery profession in this process were addressed in comprehensive sessions.

Üsküdar University has this time focused its pioneering vision in health sciences on breastfeeding, the cornerstone of mother and baby health. Organized by the First Touch to a Miracle Club, the "1st National Üsküdar University Breastfeeding Symposium" was held at the İbni Sina Conference Hall. Marked by strong academic participation, the event was organized to protect the culture of breastfeeding and to advance midwifery practices in light of current scientific evidence.

In the opening sessions of the symposium, leading figures in the field such as Prof. Dr. A. Aktuğ Ertekin and Asst. Prof. Dr. Neriman Güdücü drew attention to the fact that breastfeeding is not only a physiological process but also a public health issue that shapes community health. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tuğba Yılmaz Esencan and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayça Demir Yıldırım shared with participants the professional counseling roles midwives assume during the breastfeeding process, as well as current clinical protocols.

At the symposium, attended by a total of 360 participants, experts such as Specialist Midwife Pınar Mallı, Asst. Prof. Dr. Arzu Akdemir and Asst. Prof. Dr. Günay Arslan gave presentations on factors that increase breastfeeding success and on managing the challenges encountered. In the sessions, where theoretical knowledge was supported by case analyses, important information was shared that will boost midwifery students' professional confidence and broaden their clinical perspectives.

Throughout the event, not only medical requirements but also the psychosocial dimensions of breastfeeding and public awareness efforts were discussed in detail. Participants had the opportunity to observe how new approaches used in breastfeeding counseling improve the quality of midwifery care. In addition to the sharing of scientific knowledge, discussion sessions that inspired new research ideas elevated the academic productivity of the symposium.

Speaking at the closing session of the symposium, students and healthcare professionals stated that such comprehensive national events are indispensable for professional development. In line with Üsküdar University's motto "Science of Goodness," the First Touch to a Miracle Club stated that it will keep its scientific work on mother and baby health sustainable. The event concluded with the presentation of certificates of appreciation to the speakers and a group photo.