Thandi cannot hold back her tears as she watches her baby girl sleeping peacefully beside her.“My baby has been through so much, she whispers, gently touching Babalwa’s tiny hand.
During her pregnancy, Thandi developed an intense fear of breastfeeding. The thought of putting her baby to the breast made her feel anxious and deeply uncomfortable. Although her family tried to reassure her, she remained convinced that breastfeeding was something she would not be able to manage.
When Babalwa was born, she was healthy and thriving. Thandi attempted to breastfeed while they were in hospital, but her anxiety persisted. She had already bought formula and felt relieved knowing that she would have another feeding option when they returned home.
However, after Babalwa’s first formula feeds, a red, itchy rash appeared on her delicate skin. With each feed, her symptoms became more severe. Then, one morning, Thandi noticed that her baby’s eyes and lips had begun to swell. Babalwa started vomiting and struggled to breathe.
Terrified, Thandi rushed her little girl to the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, where the medical team immediately examined and treated her. Watching her baby in distress, Thandi felt overwhelmed and tearfully shared her fear of breastfeeding with the doctor.
Rather than judging her, the doctor reassured Thandi that the most important priority was ensuring that Babalwa received the medical care and nutrition she needed. He explained that, if Thandi wanted to try breastfeeding again, frequent feeding and the right support could help stimulate her milk supply. Because Babalwa had experienced a serious reaction, Thandi was also given an appropriate feeding plan to follow under medical guidance.
With patience, encouragement and consistent breastfeeding, Thandi’s milk supply gradually increased. Within a week, she was producing enough milk to nourish her baby, and Babalwa began to recover and grow stronger.
The experience helped Thandi understand more about breastfeeding and its many benefits. She learnt that breast milk provides babies with nourishing, easily digestible food and contains antibodies that help support their developing immune systems. Breastfeeding can also promote healthy growth and development while creating precious moments of closeness between mother and baby.
Most importantly, Thandi learnt that mothers should never feel ashamed to speak openly about their fears. Accurate information, compassionate guidance and practical support can help women make informed feeding decisions that are right for them and their babies.
As we mark Breastfeeding Month and celebrate Women’s Month, Thandi’s story reminds us that mothers need encouragement, not judgement. While every mother’s circumstances and feeding journey are different, all women deserve access to trustworthy information and professional support.
Breastfeeding is about more than nourishment. It is also about protecting children’s health, supporting mothers and creating an environment in which women feel informed, empowered and able to succeed.
Today, as Thandi watches Babalwa sleeping peacefully, she no longer allows fear to guide her. Instead, she feels grateful for the care, knowledge and support that helped her find confidence in herself—and give her little girl the nourishment she needed.
