Amanzimtoti moms-to-be showered with love on Valentine’s Day
The soon-to-be moms were taught about, among other things, first aid, acting in an emergency, baby massage therapy and caring and coping techniques by the town's professionals.
VALENTINE’S Day focused on a different kind of love for the 20 first-time mothers who had a baby shower thrown for them by Amanzimtoti’s Choices for Life Pregnancy Resource Centre in conjunction with Netcare 911 Kingway Hospital on Thursday, 14 February.
The soon-to-be moms were taught about, among other things, first aid, acting in an emergency, baby massage therapy and caring and coping techniques by the town’s professionals.
The 20 moms-to-be were invited to start chipping in to acquire some of the mountain of knowledge a mother will need to know to raise a healthy, happy child.
Netcare 911’s ambulance was present and three advanced life support paramedics spoke the mothers through how to react in an emergency. The paramedics shared how to called an ambulance, what every ambulance is equipped with, capable of doing and how payment works.
Choices for Life is home to the town’s only baby safe, ‘Impilo Baby Haven’. This safe provides a place where unwanted babies can be safely and anonymously left to be collected by the centre’s staff. These babies, after going through a thorough adoption process, will have a chance to grow towards their bright future.
Read about it here: Amanzimtoti baby safe offers life to abandoned babies
“I’m sure everyone is aware of the baby rescued north of Durban last week, after it had been left in a drain,” said Choices for Life’s manager Zoe Bridge. “As a Christian-based ministry we are trying to prevent this kind of situation from happening, but without proper exposure, people are not going to be aware of what we can offer.”
Kingsway Hospital’s infant massage specialist explained the importance of massage therapy and all the emotional and physical benefits to be reaped. Kingsway Hospital’s clinical facilitators taught infant cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the choking relief technique. Mothers-in-waiting were given a chance to try their newly-learned knowledge on the mannequins provided, under the guidance of the nurses.
After a small snack break experts from the emergency department elaborated on burns, as many young children who are not aware of the danger of hot items or an open flame, fall victim to these injuries which prove difficult to treat. A ‘My journey to our journey’ talk was given by the hospital’s maternity unit manager.
Mothers were further taught coping techniques by a doula who works from Kingsway Hospital. A doula, also known as a birth companion, birth coach or post-birth supporter, is a non-medical person who assists a woman before, during or after childbirth, to provide emotional support and physical help if needed.
The extremely educational baby shower came to a close with each mom leaving with a gift and a lot more knowledge on infant care. Choices for Life offers crisis counselling to pregnant women and teens and offers a sexual health education programme to the local community and schools.
For more information contact the centre on 031-903-7359 or visit 10 Nelson Road, Amanzimtoti.
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