Witkoppen Clinic event educates midwives on best breastfeeding practices

Thembi Makhombothi, head of department at Witkoppen Clinci, shares some insightful information about how moms can ensure they have a healthy bouncing baby.

8 hours ago

Ditiro Masuku 3 minutes read

Sinenhlanhla and Veronica Moghola are characters in the hilarious drama play.

Over two decades ago, if you had told Thembi Makhombothi that she would become a nurse, she would have found it hard to believe. The sight of blood made her queasy, and she was easily repulsed by bodily fluids and all that came with them.

In fact, her larger-than-life personality and love for engaging in conversations while sharing knowledge made her believe she was destined to be a teacher.

Instead Makhombothi stumbled upon a fulfilling path at the clinic, where she found joy in assisting others, witnessing their recovery, and connecting them with professionals to address their health concerns. Now, she refuses to dwell on the past, instead, she has wholeheartedly embraced nursing as her true calling.

On August 2, Makhombothi, in her capacity as head of department at Witkoppen Clinic, spearheaded a Breastfeeding Week event to empower midwives with vital knowledge on the advantages of breastfeeding, overcoming feeding challenges, confidently nursing in public, and exploring ways partners can offer essential support during the breastfeeding process.

“I saw how mothers are after giving birth when I started nursing, some don’t want to breastfeed because they want to keep their breasts beautiful, and they don’t have time to breastfeed their babies, not knowing its important and what they are giving to their babies. Being exposed and taught about breastfeeding helps in changing their mindset, and of those who are pregnant.”

While addressing new moms who struggle to feed, Makhombothi said a lot of new moms believe that it is a must that they should be able to produce milk on the first day after birth, which is not true.

“It is not always like that. There is this watery substance that is coming from your breasts. That is where it starts, it is your colostrum. This is the first nutrient that your baby needs on the first feeding of their life. So, yes, they do come and say, ‘I don’t have milk’, but that is just because they just want to see a flowing fluid to feed the baby and it is usually not the case. It starts to be scanty at first, but the best advise is that, put your baby on your breast and then it would stimulate, the more stimulation, the more the production will come.”

She said while some mothers still face significant challenges, the guidance of a dietician has been instrumental in overcoming breastfeeding hurdles that enable babies to receive essential nutrients and form a loving bond between mother and child through successful breastfeeding.

Also read: Witkoppen Clinic celebrates patient care at the forefront

“The dietician would then work on their diet and also give them proper supplements so that they are able to produce milk.”

Makhombothi said when it comes to pains during breastfeeding they prepare new moms through their antenatal classes, which equip moms-to-be with valuable insights and practical tips to guide them through a stress-free breastfeeding journey.

Moms are getting schooled about breastfeeding their new bundles of joy.

She also reassures them that mild discomfort during breastfeeding is common, and an encouraging indication of a proper latch and successful feeding.

“When you feel that pain, it forces your uterus to contract and go back to normal. So, as much as you are feeling pain there is this enzyme that is being produced for the contraction of the uterus, and that pain does not have to last long. It takes only less than a week, like three to four days. We advise the new moms to hang in there because if they were able to bear the baby during labor pains, then that pain is nothing.”

The Witkoppen Clinic staff have also performed a hilarious and informative play that schooled new moms on the ABCs of breastfeeding.

The drama highlighted a common mistake many moms make – ignoring the valuable advice of nurses. Dietician Elmare Theron joined the force and guided the moms through the amazing growth stages of their tiny humans, from teeny-tiny tots to curious cuties.