Red Cross Celebrates World Breastfeeding Week

Representatives from Hospital Management and the multi-disciplinary Breastfeeding-is-Best (BIB) team at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital celebrated World Breastfeeding Week by visiting the inpatient wards and presenting each breastfeeding mother at the hospital with a breastfeeding pillow, breastfeeding apron or feeding cup on 5 August 2015. 

Breastfeeding mothers are encouraged to breastfeed when the need arises, but many mothers have reported feeling uncomfortable breastfeeding in public. The hospital is supporting these mothers by providing them with the option of using a breastfeeding apron. The 100% cotton breastfeeding apron was specifically designed to facilitate privacy during their times of breastfeeding and/or expressing.

To reach the World Health Orgainisation’s recommendation of six months exclusive breastfeeding, breastfeeding women need a supportive environment that protects, promotes and supports breastfeeding. Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital showed this support by presenting breastfeeding mothers with these gifts in honour of the mothers’ excellent commitment towards exclusive breastfeeding. A total of 42 mothers were each presented with a gift.

New mother, Ntombekaya Kuse, was very excited to receive her breastfeeding pillow and apron. “I wish to thank Red Cross Hospital. I sometimes feel uncomfortable breastfeeding in public, but these gifts will make breastfeeding my six-week old daughter, Lwetu Kuse, easier.” 

Another mother, Quinlene le Roux, commented that she believes that breastfeeding saved her child’s life. “My 24-month old son, Jude, had been sick for five weeks and did not want to eat anything, but was breastfeeding. If he had not still been breastfeeding, he would not have received any nutrition for five weeks.” 

World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated annually from 1 – 7 August to encourage breastfeeding and to raise awareness about infant health. This year’s theme is ‘Breastfeeding and Work – Let’s make it work!’ 

Breastfeeding Week activities at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital included:

• 3 August: Creative Arts Display Competition for staff members and a Breastfeeding Fair and Information Day for breastfeeding mothers at the hospital
• 4 August: Breastfeeding Skills Day for staff members
• 5 August: Ward Rounds to breastfeeding mothers to present them with a breastfeeding pillow, apron or feeding cup.