NATIONAL NEWS - Breastfeeding has always been a popular topic, even more so during World Breastfeeding Week, which is celebrated this week, from 1 to 7 August.

There is a need to improve breastfeeding support across all levels of society. 

This year's theme, 'Closing the Gap', aims to strengthen support for moms and communities during their breastfeeding journey.

The Western Cape Government Health and Wellness is proud to join the global community in support of this important week.

For a lot of women, breastfeeding is a difficult road, one they must navigate as first-time-moms, while being sleep-deprived, or while holding down full-time or part-time work.

"Factors that made my breastfeeding journey easier were supportive colleagues at work and a support system at home. My daughter is two and a half years old, and we are gradually weaning according to her needs", says Joritha Meyer, pharmacy supervisor at Knysna Community Day Centre.

She says both her daughters were exclusively breastfed until six months. She has recently stopped expressing milk for her second daughter at 15 months, but continues with on-demand breastfeeding when they are together.

"This journey had its challenges. My breast milk had a high level of lipase, which means that I can't freeze breast milk, so I had to express the day before to have enough milk for the next day. 

"I work in a fast, high-paced environment. I expressed while driving to and from work and at work at 10- to 15-minute intervals at a time - at least three times per day during the first couple of months, then gradually less and less. 

"Multitasking is key! My advice to moms who are working and pumping is to take it day by day and not set any expectations. 

"There will be challenges. Be prepared. Have a support team, some days are going to be tough and that is okay! Always remember that our babies are only little for a little while."
Although breast milk is the best nutritional choice for infants, the decision to breastfeed or formula feed your baby is personal, as breastfeeding may not be possible for all moms.

Help is key - and it's available
Leensie Lötter, communication officer for the Western Cape Government Health and Wellness: West Coast District and Paarl Hospital, says that in her breastfeeding journey she had to deal with the common myth that breastfeeding is a natural action, and it should be easy for both mother and baby

"The truth is, more new moms struggle with breastfeeding and those who have little trouble getting the hang of it are the exception rather than the rule," she says. 

"I found with both my children that the first few weeks of breastfeeding were difficult and challenging, especially with my first child who was unable to latch properly. 

"Encouragement and support from family and colleagues really helped me to persevere and I was able to do dual feeding (breast and bottle feeding with expressed breast milk) for the first year of my baby's life."

She says that it's not just first-time-moms who can struggle with breastfeeding.

 "With my second child I also had challenges, but previous experience encouraged me to persist. The important thing to remember is that help is available. Support from family, loved ones and colleague goes a long way and it really does get easier for baby and mother after the first few weeks."
The staff at their facilities will be able to assist you. They are equipped and experienced in feeding and nutrition.

Breastfeeding benefits
• Breast milk is formulated specifically for a baby's nutritional needs. You cannot duplicate breast milk.
• Breast milk protects the baby against illness and infections. Breast milk contains antibodies from the mother that can protect the baby against diseases and infections.
• Breastfeeding is an excellent form of soothing and comfort.
• Skin-to-skin contact (also called kangaroo mother care or KMC) between mother and baby is an excellent way of bonding with the baby, provides warmth to the baby, regulates baby's heartbeat, helps to increase milk production, and gives baby direct access to the breast to that they can feed on demand.

Administration officer at Knysna Hospital Candice Malgraff says her mother helped her a lot. "Especially when I was expressing, she kept an eye on my little one when he was awake. 

"I saved a lot on food and other milk products because my baby enjoyed himself with the breast milk. When expressing at work, my baby's nanny fed him, so by the time I go for my lunch break, I was just in time for him to be fed again. 

"Everything worked out so nicely. I did not stay far from work and had my own transport."

Mom-of-two Leensie Lotter knows the challenges of breastfeeding.Your rights as a working breastfeeding mom
According to the Code of Good Practice on the protection of employees during pregnancy and after the birth of a child, arrangements should be made for you to have two breaks of 30 minutes per day for breastfeeding or expressing milk. 

This should be arranged for every working day for the first six months of your child's life.

A toilet isn't a safe or hygienic space to express milk. Try to get a clean and private space for you to express milk or breastfeed. Talk to your line manager if you want to continue with breastfeeding and expressing and explain your specific needs.

 "I found that managers would like to provide support for breastfeeding employees, but they may not know how, or what the practical needs may be. Clear and open communication can equip your manager to provide you with what you need to continue your breastfeeding journey," says Leensie.

"Be specific on what you need to express at work, for example, some electric breast pumps need to be plugged in or charged."

Practical tips for breastfeeding:
• Try different positions for breastfeeding. What works for someone else may not necessarily work for you and your baby.
• If you consider expressing milk, get help from a lactation consultant to operate the breast pump correctly, especially in terms of suction and positioning. If you don't have access to a lactation consultant, you can ask a mother who uses the same breast pump as you for assistance.
• You also don't need to have the most expensive equipment to express milk. Manual pumps are cheaper and work just as effectively as electric pumps. Manual pumps can be more time-consuming, so scheduling during work hours is important.

• Remember that breastfeeding and expressing can be physically draining and you need to look after your personal health and wellness too.

Drink enough liquids and eat healthy (and regularly) to ensure that you replenish the nutrients in your body. This will also help with maintaining a sufficient milk supply.

• If you notice a decline in milk supply when expressing, check your breast pump and its parts and make sure it's working properly. Some parts do need regular replacement, and this can affect suction and consequently supply.
• While home remedies to increase milk supply are common, try to increase and monitor your daily water intake first. This has been proven to have a direct impact on milk supply. Also remember that not all home remedies will work equally, as our bodies and their needs differ from person to person.

Assistant Director for Health Support Megan Marais trusts that breastfeeding provides numerous benefits for both mother, baby and their families. 

"By continuing to cultivate a supportive community and workplace environment, we can close the gap and ensure all mothers and babies have the necessary resources to thrive during their breastfeeding journey."

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