“My son was admitted to Groote Schuur Hospital neonatal ward in November 2009. He needed milk.
Edith Medell (mother of baby receiving donor breastmilk) Cape Town
"It made me feel proud to know that my milk would go to a very deserving child. Having a baby is a miracle and if I could help just one child it would be an honour."
Andrea (breastmilk donor) - Diep River
"It felt wonderful to be able to help other moms and babies in the same way that I had been helped. It has been very special to be both a donor and recipient of breastmilk through the milk bank."
Debbie K. (donor and recipient)
" I was told of the milk bank and immediately decided this was a brilliant idea and started donating my extra breastmilk."
Andi (breastmilk donor) - Dieprivier
Breastfeeding myths
- Myths about the mother's health
- Myths about the newborn
- Myth's about the baby's health
- Myths about "enough milk"
- Myths about surgery
- General myths
Myths about surgery
*A woman who has had breast augmentation surgery cannot breastfeed - NOT TRUE!
Most do very well. There is no evidence that breastfeeding with silicone implants is harmful to the baby. Occasionally this operation is done through the areola. These women do have often have problems with milk supply, as does any woman who has an incision around the areola line.
*A woman who has had breast reduction surgery cannot breastfeed - NOT TRUE!
Breast reduction surgery does decrease the mother's capacity to produce milk, but since many mothers produce more than enough milk, some mothers who have had breast reduction surgery can breastfeed exclusively. In such a situation, the establishment of breastfeeding should be done with special care to the principles of good breastfeeding techniques.(Refer to Page Breastfeeding page on KMC Position and Latch, and Demand Feeding.) However, if the mother seems not to produce enough, she can still breastfeed, supplementing with a lactation aid. Further information from La Leche League - see useful contacts. (Artificial nipples/teats could interfere with breastfeeding).
*If a mother has surgery, she has to wait a day before restarting nursing - NOT TRUE!
The mother can breastfeed immediately after surgery, as soon as she is awake and up to it. Neither the medications used during anesthesia, nor pain medications nor antibiotics used after surgery, require the mother to interrupt breastfeeding, except under exceptional circumstances. Enlightened hospitals will accommodate breastfeeding mothers and babies when either the mother or the baby needs to be admitted to the hospital, so that breastfeeding can continue. Many rules that restrict breastfeeding are more for the convenience of staff than for the benefit of mothers and babies.
*Myths by Dr Jack Newman
