Breastfeeding promotes health of mother, baby

Fri, 17 Mar 2017 07:22:06 +0000

By ANNIE ZULU

MOTHERS and expectant mothers should adhere strictly to the six-month exclusive breastfeeding of their newly-born babies, Bump, Birth and Beyond (BBB) Zambia director Margot Bham has advised.

Ms Bham, whose organisation’s objective is to support mothers and expectant mothers on every step of their journey into parenthood through sensitization, told the Daily Nation in an interview that breastfeeding promoted the health of both the mother and baby.

“Breast milk is the best food for a baby and I advise all mothers to ensure that they stick to the prescribed six months of breastfeed, giving food to the baby who is below six months puts the baby’s life in danger,” Ms Bham said.

She entreated mothers of new babies to take their children’s post-natal care seriously, including their immunisation and nutritional needs.

She also cautioned mothers to refrain from using too much hot water to bath their babies but should be gentle whenever they are massaging them in order to avoid any damage to their skin.

“It’s important that even after giving birth mothers seek medical attention for their babies by taking them for post-natal care, so that they know if their baby is healthy and if not the problem is solved immediately,” she said.

To mothers who delivered through the Caesarian operation, Ms Bham advised them to go for regular reviews to prevent any future complications.

She advised women especially those delivering for the first time to seek support from experienced hands in bathing their children and treatment of their child’s umbilical cord wounds.

She also advised young mothers to dress their new babies with cotton cloth in order to ensure sufficient circulation of air around them and prevent any discomfort and rashes on their skin.