Boosting newborn care; Support your child’s growth by breastfeeding.

Many expecting mothers’ dream of the moment they’ll first cradle their little one in their arms and start providing for their most basic needs.

For some breastfeeding moms, this expectation may become a source of worry and anxiety if their milk supply doesn’t come in shortly after delivery. Before getting anxious and frustrated, a mother needs to keep herself calm and bear in mind that however little or small amount of colostrum your body may produce, it’s very beneficial for your baby and you can’t give up on that. Mothers are encouraged to start breastfeeding within the first thirty minutes of birth.

Recently, I hosted Dr. Sabrina Bakeera Kitaaka, a specialist in Pediatric infectious diseases and a senior lecturer in the Department of Pediatrics, at Makerere University School of Medicine on my ‘KUZA show’ that airs on a local TV station, Dream TV every Wednesday from 8 to 9pm to digest breastfeeding for my audience, and one of the thing she put emphasis on was the importance of colostrum and exclusive breastfeeding.

Colostrum is the first breast milk released by the mammary glands after giving birth. It’s nutrient-dense and high in antibodies and antioxidants to build a new born baby’s immune system. It changes to breast milk within two or four days after the baby is born. Colostrum is thicker and more yellow than traditional breast milk.

“We always encourage mothers to make sure the baby breastfeeds within the first thirty minutes of birth. Most of them complain about not having breast milk but what they don’t know is that, that first breast milk which we call colostrum is everything the baby needs at that moment. I could actually say that colostrum is more important than the actual breast milk because it has anti-bodies and hormones that help the baby to fight infections and other diseases. Given its ingredients, even 1 mill of colostrum is good enough for the baby”. Dr. Sabrina said.

In most cases, a mother’s breast milk supply may take a little longer to come or to increase if it was a premature birth, if a mother has a medical condition like diabetes or polystic ovary syndrome or she has obesity, if the mother had cesarean delivery, if the pregnancy included a prolonged bed rest, if the mother had a Straumatic birth or postpartum hemorrhage or if a mother has thyroid condition among other things.

Dr. Sabrina shared a few tips on the things a mother can do to encourage a greater milk supply.

• Drink lots of water and get as much sleep as you can
• Use a heating pad or take a warm shower before breastfeeding or pumping.
• Express milk frequently-even if only a small amount comes out.
• Massage your breast area as well as pump or hand express
• Listen to relaxing music
• Eat healthy foods.
• And having a positive attitude althroughout among others.

While for some mothers it’s inevitable to have challenges producing enough supply thus affecting their capability to breastfeed, others choose not to breastfeed because of the low self-esteem that comes with fallen breasts after breastfeeding.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, and continued breastfeeding along with solid foods up to two years or beyond. This is because of it’s a numerous benefits for both mothers and babies including; optimal nutrition and growth, boosted immune system, enhanced brain development, and reduced risk of infections and diseases. Furthermore, it promotes bonding and emotional connection between a mother and her child and also supports the mother’s physical and mental health.

In as much as majority of breastfeeding mothers would want to see this happen, there are a number of factors that hinder them. These among others include; working outside home, maternal age and educational level, economic status or family income (poverty), lack of family support, sex, age of the child, number of births and space between children, child spacing and self-efficacy in breastfeeding among others.

In a bid to boost new born care, the Ministry of Healthy announced plans to establish human breast milk banks across the country to support vulnerable new born who lack access to breast milk. The banks will provide donor human milk to preterm and low-birth-weight infants, babies whose mothers have passed away, mothers with infectious diseases and those in intensive care units.

Currently, there are three breast milk banks in Uganda located in Nsambya, Nakasero and Mbale hospitals.

“Our target is to roll out the establishment of human breast milk banks in phases across all national and regional referral hospitals, beginning with Kawempe and Mulago Specialized Women’s Hospitals. Dr.Daniel Kyabayinze, Director of Public Health said, while officiating at an event held at the Ministry of Health headquarters in Kampala three weeks ago to commemorate World Breastfeeding week.

Action Against Hunger pledged to support the initiative by piloting a human breast bank project in Adjumani and Kiryandongo refugee settlements.

“We have seen children introduced to food as young as three months because the mother has no choice, has no breast milk. So yes, we are supporting the initiative”. Ritah Kabanyoro, Country Director emphasized while attending the event.

The Ministry of Health also highlighted the importance of supporting breastfeeding mothers in the workplace by providing spaces where mothers can go and breastfeed their babies safely.

Report compiled by Teddy Namayanja. She’s a staff writer at SML News UG passionate about health, politics and human rights.