Where to go for Support

A Lactation Consultant

A lactation consultant is a specialist in the field of breastfeeding.

Many years of experience in caring for breastfeeding families, is required before one can qualify to write the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) exam. To maintain the qualification an IBCLC is required to gain additional experience and knowledge, before re-qualifying every 5 years.

Clinic Visits

Well Baby Clinics offer both practical and moral support. Speaking to and comparing notes with other mothers visiting the clinic is also valuable. Should you live in a centre with no Well Baby Clinics contact your closest qualified Lactation Consultant. (See useful contacts page

Telephonic Breastfeeding Support & Mother-to-Mother Breastfeeding Support

Organisations such as La Leche League and the Breastfeeding Association offer breastfeeding support telehonically and La Leche League groups meet monthly to offer breastfeeding support and a chance for mothers to socialize. For contact information see our Useful Contacts and Links.

Listening To Advice

Don’t argue when you receive poor advice, just agree and do it your way anyhow. While pregnant you have probably noticed how others love to tell you about their pregnancies, mostly the negative experiences. Breastfeeding is much the same; everyone has had a ‘problem’ like yours and knows how to resolve it. The difficulty is that you have to differentiate between the good and the poor advice. Unfortunately even health workers don’t always offer good advice. My suggestion is that you decide on the person – family, friend or health worker – who you trust and listen to him or her only. Ideally their information should be based on evidence and good, well-backed up research rather than personal opinions.

Mother-Support-Groups

Mother support groups can offer good company, support, reassurance and education to new moms. Find out from your local clinic about joining a mother-support group in your area.

If there isn’t one, why not invite mothers from your birth education classes, who you were in hospital with or who you have met at the clinic, to your home. You could meet at different homes, invite speakers or make use of the talents amongst the group.

DID YOU KNOW

Breastmilk and pain suppression...

Breast milk actually contains chemicals that suppress pain (endorphins). Aside from this, the comfort a baby derives from being held close and suckling is remarkable. The pain from many a bump has been soothed away almost instantly by a few moments of breastfeeding. When you vaccinate your child, it is a good idea to breastfeed immediately after he/she receives a vaccination. This soothes the hurt, as well as enhancing the vaccine’s effectiveness.

I’m so grateful that I discovered the opportunity to donate my milk – donating really made me feel good about myself, knowing that the recipient babies would be given a boost in life.

Megan, Breastmilk Donor - Blue Downs

Without human milk banks we would lose more premature infants and we would not be seeing so many premature infants going home healthy.

Doctor, Head Neonatologist at a major state hospital in Cape Town

When I had my daughter I really battled with breastfeeding and thought, "Wow, I wish I could have donated milk." When I had my son I had plenty of milk to spare and decided to donate to Milk Matters. The entire process was so easy. I truly recommend becoming a breast milk donor to all mothers, it is such a rewarding experience.

Melanie, Breastmilk donor – Kenilworth

I remember with fondness the year when I was able to help with my milk I pumped every morning. Talita is now 4 years old, and she feels very proud of sharing her 'lolo' with sick babies in South Africa.

Laetitia, Breastmilk Donor - now living in Saudi Arabia