Hospital encourages breast feeding

The Bheki Mlangeni District Hospital hosted a week-long campaign to endorse breastfeeding.

The purpose of the campaign was to encourage breastfeeding by demonstrating how beneficial it is to the baby and how economical it is to the mother.

The campaign made mothers aware of the advantages of breastfeeding and taught them about the nutrients found in natural breast milk. According to a research done by dietician, Ramosedi Mashala, she discovered that some mothers still regard breastfeeding as time-consuming, messy and a shameful thing to do, especially in public.

Other mothers consider breastfeeding a special bond with their babies.

Mashala said, “Mothers should not look at breastfeeding as time wasting, they can express the milk for daily feeding.”

Lorna Mlangeni from Zola said, “Breastfeeding should be done entirely from an obligation of loving your little one.”

Mothers participated in quiz questions from dieticians, though some were spot on, some struggled. Those who needed further assistance were invited to a breast milk expressing lesson at the hospital. The highlighted precaution was that mothers were urged to always remember to use clean hands and containers, Mashala said, “Infants are vulnerable to bacterial infections and that might lead to mortality.”

The campaign also emphasised the following advantages of breastfeeding:
• Convenience, one does not need time to prepare the milk.
• Breastfeeding can increase family’s budget.
• Breast milk has 100% required nutrients for babies.
• Breastfeeding can protect baby from unnecessary illnesses.
• Reduces stress levels.