Motorbike couriers, bottles of expressed breast milk pumped in the office and stored in cool bags slung over their shoulders, battle their way through Jakarta's choked streets with their precious cargo.
Grandmothers waiting at home caring for the infants can then feed the babies with the freshest mother's milk, rather than resort to powdered milk that many feel is inferior and less healthy.
The service – which charges just £2.20 to £3 for each delivery – was set up in 2010 by Fikri Nauval, 40, who runs a cargo and document shipping business. He was inspired by his own wife who used his couriers to send her breast milk when she had to return to work.
On Jakarta's notoriously clogged roads Mr Nauval's couriers can take up to an hour to make a delivery. But he keeps the journey time as short as possible using computerised maps and GPS trackers to monitor traffic trouble spots.
"I would like to help this nation build a better generation by helping working mothers deliver breast milk to their babies at home," said Mr Nauval.
The service was launched in 2010 by Fikri Nauval, owner of a cargo and document shipping business, who said he was inspired by his wife's using one of his motorcycle riders to send her breast milk home to their baby after she had to return to work.
He charges 30,000 to 40,000 rupiah ($3.30 to $4.40) a trip, keeping track of traffic conditions and the best routes for drivers to take using a GPS map on a computer.
"I would like to help this nation build a better generation by helping working mothers deliver breast milk to their babies at home," said the 40-year-old Nauval, who feels the nutrients in breast milk can't be replicated by the powdered variety.
His feelings are echoed by the authorities, who are struggling to encourage Indonesian women to breastfeed their newborn babies.
The number of women who do so fell to 38 percent in 2007, said Yulianto Santoso Kuniawan, a pediatrician who is also a consultant on breastfeeding.
Most mothers receive information promoting the benefits of formula or free samples while still in hospital after giving birth, but Kurniawan said hospitals need to do more to promote breastfeeding, especially for the natural immunity it provides.
"With this counseling, I can see mothers showing a bigger interest in breastfeeding their children," he added.
Though a ride through the chaos of Jakarta traffic might not seem the best of environments for breast milk, Nauval said his customers all understand and are fine with the idea -- just as long as the bottles all arrive safe and sound.
Grandmothers waiting at home caring for the infants can then feed the babies with the freshest mother's milk, rather than resort to powdered milk that many feel is inferior and less healthy.
The service – which charges just £2.20 to £3 for each delivery – was set up in 2010 by Fikri Nauval, 40, who runs a cargo and document shipping business. He was inspired by his own wife who used his couriers to send her breast milk when she had to return to work.
On Jakarta's notoriously clogged roads Mr Nauval's couriers can take up to an hour to make a delivery. But he keeps the journey time as short as possible using computerised maps and GPS trackers to monitor traffic trouble spots.
"I would like to help this nation build a better generation by helping working mothers deliver breast milk to their babies at home," said Mr Nauval.
The service was launched in 2010 by Fikri Nauval, owner of a cargo and document shipping business, who said he was inspired by his wife's using one of his motorcycle riders to send her breast milk home to their baby after she had to return to work.
He charges 30,000 to 40,000 rupiah ($3.30 to $4.40) a trip, keeping track of traffic conditions and the best routes for drivers to take using a GPS map on a computer.
"I would like to help this nation build a better generation by helping working mothers deliver breast milk to their babies at home," said the 40-year-old Nauval, who feels the nutrients in breast milk can't be replicated by the powdered variety.
His feelings are echoed by the authorities, who are struggling to encourage Indonesian women to breastfeed their newborn babies.
The number of women who do so fell to 38 percent in 2007, said Yulianto Santoso Kuniawan, a pediatrician who is also a consultant on breastfeeding.
Most mothers receive information promoting the benefits of formula or free samples while still in hospital after giving birth, but Kurniawan said hospitals need to do more to promote breastfeeding, especially for the natural immunity it provides.
"With this counseling, I can see mothers showing a bigger interest in breastfeeding their children," he added.
Though a ride through the chaos of Jakarta traffic might not seem the best of environments for breast milk, Nauval said his customers all understand and are fine with the idea -- just as long as the bottles all arrive safe and sound.
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