Breastfeeding week celebrated

Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from 1 to 7 August.

Each year the Western Cape Department of Health issues a statement in support of breastfeeding and lists the multitude of benefits of breastfeeding for both the baby and the mother. Research has proven that exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months provides antibodies and other components that protect children against most common childhood illnesses.

Breastfeeding also has an important role in the prevention of different forms of childhood malnutrition, including wasting, stunting, over- and underweight and micronutrient deficiencies.

This year, the Western Cape Government has confirmed its adoption of the Mother Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, which requires that all babies must be placed in the skin to skin position immediately after birth and that the baby should latch to the breast within the first hour after birth. Research has proven that this intervention increases the chances of exclusive breastfeeding long term.

This sounds good on paper, but is much more difficult to achieve in reality.

A new mother needs all the help she can get with breastfeeding which can be frought with complications and difficulty. Many new mothers struggle with breastfeeding and overburdened nurses do not always have the correct and up to date training to assist. In the private sector, hospital procedures also tend to get in the way of assisting mothers with the correct breastfeeding information.

The Western Cape Government needs to ensure their staff is trained and able to assist in this crucial first step in a child’s health journey.

Ek verstaan die mag wat die epidemie oor ons het, ek verstaan die afstand wat gehou moet word, ek verstaan “no mask – no entry”.

Ek is doof, nie dom nie, maar wat doen jy meneer of mevrou om my te laat “hoor”? Hoe meer ek vir die mense vra om te skryf wat jy sê, hoe meer mompel jy daar agter jou masker of van hulle skreeu en sê dan: “Please put back on your mask!”