WATCH: Lactation consultant shares benefits of breastfeeding

WORLD Breastfeeding Week is a celebration held every year from August 1 to 7, and we chatted to a passionate lactation consultant who said she is lucky to have a job she thoroughly enjoys.

Sister Lindsey Watkeys shared the importance of breast milk and the challenges that mothers face and the myths surrounding breastfeeding.

Watkeys grew up in England and trained as a nurse in London – she did general nurse training and a course in paediatrics.

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When she moved to South Africa, she studied midwifery.

After working at the Crompton Baby Clinic for 11 years, an opportunity was presented to enrol for a course with the South African Certified Lactation Consultants (SACLC).

“Sometimes, you think you know a fair amount, but this course gave me so much more depth and understanding. I was the first South African Certified Lactation Consultant in Durban,” she said.

Asked about working with first-time mothers, the Durban resident said it is a privilege to work with new mothers and share in their joy.

“It can, however, be a difficult time for a mother when she feels overwhelmed and full of doubts, so I enjoy supporting and encouraging a new mum as she starts her motherhood journey. I love meeting lots of different mums, all on their individual paths in breastfeeding,” she said.

She said she always advises mothers to try to be patient.

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“Breastfeeding is instinctive for both mum and baby, but it needs to be learnt over time. Some babies go to the breast and latch immediately, but many don’t and need time and encouragement to latch onto the breast successfully.

“Like any skill, it needs to be practised, so keep going with encouraging your baby, and they will soon be breastfeeding well. Get help early on if you are struggling with breastfeeding. Someone who is trained, skilled and who has lots of knowledge about breastfeeding can make a big difference to your breastfeeding journey.”

She advised mothers to contact a lactation consultant or someone who is skilled to help them overcome their breastfeeding challenges.

Importance of breastfeeding

Watkeys said breastfeeding is the natural way to feed our babies.

“We, as humans, are mammals, and we have breastfed our babies since the beginning of time and as we evolved. Breastmilk has all the correct nutrients in the right quantities and is a complete food source for the baby – there is no need to give any formula or porridge in the early months.

“Babies grow and thrive well on breast milk. There is also a vast immune profile in breast milk, particularly in colostrum, which is the initial milk. This is hugely protective for the baby who is very vulnerable to pathogens and infections in the first year of life. Breast milk is also free with no cost involved, so that is a financial relief when raising a baby,” she said.

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She said there is also an option to express breast milk.

“Mothers will need to express their breastmilk when they cannot physically feed their baby. This may be if a baby is admitted to a neonatal ICU, in which case the mother is encouraged to express her colostrum and breast milk, which is given to the baby via a feeding tube.

“Otherwise, mothers express milk when they need to leave their baby to return to work. They can express breast milk throughout the day at work and refrigerate it. They can then take it home in a cooler bag and refrigerate the milk. The baby can then be given the milk the following day while the mother is working, and she can breastfeed her baby when she is at home on both ends of the day.”

Expressed breast milk can be stored in a fridge for up to four days, but Watkeys said fresher is better. It can be successfully frozen.

Myths surrounding breastfeeding

Many myths surround breastfeeding, and Watkeys mentioned that it is important to emphasise that breastfeeding is more successful when nothing else is added, such as formula or porridge.

“The baby will take the breast milk that he/she needs, and the mother’s body will replace that milk taken, so there is a system of supply and demand that is finely balanced.

“Mothers also need a good balanced diet while breastfeeding and should not exclude food groups unless medically advised. Gassy foods eaten by the mother will possibly make her gassy, but babies are very gassy and windy in the early months due to an immature gut, irrespective of what foods the mother is eating.”

She encouraged the family to support a mother in her breastfeeding journey.

Building up to Breastfeeding Week, KZN consultants gathered at a Durban Breastfeeding Workshop run by the SACLC at the Westville Country Club on July 13 for all the KZN lactation consultants to get together and present talks and share knowledge.

Contact Sister Lindsey on 066 211 7777.

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