Online Reporter
Fadzayi Maposah-Correspondent
THERE is always something that you know or have experienced that someone may be clueless about.
Someone may have had the same experience but what they have learnt may not be the same. Similar experience, but different lessons learnt. What we learn and how we learn cannot be the same
Breastfeeding is something that some people choose to do and it has many benefits. There is increased bonding between the mother and the child.
As the mother breastfeeds, she creates a bond with the child.
One ends up involved in child talk with the baby in a language that at times, only the two of them can understand.
Has a baby ever produced a sound and you were clueless about it, only for the mother to interpret what had been said! Strangely the two can engage in a conversation and relate to each other.
When mother and child have the discussion, they are in their own world, and others at times can be seen as intruders. Where the father is present, he may feel excluded from the bonding, and even develop resentment towards the bonding.
There are also health benefits to breastfeeding. The immune system is boosted and the baby is able to fight and resist infections.
Breastmilk is always at the right temperature and there is no mistake in the making of the milk in terms of quantities.
I am at that age where at times, I forget if I have added salt to my food. I have since told myself that I will not add any salt until when I can taste the relish!
It is better to have relish with less salt than too much. Imagine if I am the one preparing the baby’s formula milk.
I will have to be very attentive. I may have to tally the scoops of the milk powder that I will have put in the bottle or cup! Just to be sure. Better to be safe than to be sorry!
If someone is breastfeeding, there is no need to tally. The quantities are prepared by the body. There is no room for error.
Beginning to breastfeed is not easy. One is never prepared for how difficult it can be initially. Most mothers think that nature will be at work fully and see it like a walk in the park.
It is normal to struggle to breast feed. The body may fail to create the right quantities of milk for the baby. People have all types of remedies so that the breasts are full of milk.
Remedies that I have heard of include roasted salted peanuts and round nuts (nyimo). Round nuts are not easy to chew, so others end up pounding them to powder. Others encourage drinking black coffee or tea.
The nipples will crack and this is very painful. While a mother may have adequate amounts of milk, the cracked nipples may result in the mother dreading to breastfeed. This is when most older female family members come in.
They may come to support the mother and tell them that it is a phase that will pass. This can be done in a good way. One may also have the “militant” relatives who will tell the mother to “man” up.
Usually they will come in with horror stories of babies that became malnourished and how it affected the baby’s development.
While this is true, it is the way that it is said that frightens or shocks the mother, leaving her stressed.
Stress affects milk production too.
After a few trials, the mother may get the hang of breastfeeding and actually begin to enjoy it. It is normal to hear the mother scream as she breastfeeds the first few times. Nowadays there are nipple creams to ease the start.
Breastfeeding on demand calls for commitment. Some babies love their milk and will play around with their legs as they feed, proof that they are happy.
When the mother is comfortable feeding the baby and is able to handle burping the baby after each feed, then teething happens. Another hurdle as far as breastfeeding is concerned.
As the baby enjoys the milk, the baby attempts to “exercise” its teeth on the nipple. This draws screams from the mothers. Babies bite when one is most relaxed, and when it is least expected. It comes as a shock, considering that the baby has been adorable from the beginning.
What may be upsetting as you breastfeed the child who occasionally bites is that when you scream or go ouch, the baby may smile, giggle or laugh, thinking that it is a game.
One will have moved from limited amounts of milk to cracked nipples, to learning to hold the baby properly for feeding to then the biting episodes.
It is possible to get pregnant while breastfeeding . There are misconceptions regarding continuing to breasfeed while pregnant, but there are no challenges.
The milk does not lose its nutritional value just because the mother is pregnant. The pregnant mother can happily continue breastfeeding.
Some mothers opt not to breastfeed because of various reasons. While breastfeeding is encouraged for up to 24 months, others are not able to get to that stage, while others surpass this easily.
The three Ps regarding breastfeeding are patience, practise and persistence. It is not easy to get started and will not get easier without action, and being persistent will achieve tangible results.
Each time I breastfed, I lost weight. I remember my aunt, Tete Rebecca, saying that “unoneta kuyamwisa”, loosely translated means dreading breastfeeding. I would be thin and be carrying a big baby and people would be staring at me wondering how I could be so thin and have a big healthy baby.
I could not explain to everyone that I was eating well, but that I was not gaining weight as I breastfed.
Let us do the best we can in terms of promoting breast feeding and supporting those who are doing it.
Zimbabwe commemorated Breastfeeding Week at the beginning of August. Talking and promoting breastfeeding should be ongoing. #Heroes Month
