"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
"Remember that your small effort can make a huge difference in the lives of babies that struggle for survival."
Michelle (breastmilk donor) - Cape Town
Dr Alan Horn, Neonatologist, Cape Town
A donor mom's expereince of donating breastmilk:
"Positive, encouraging, accessible - thank you!"
Diane, breastmilk donor - Harfield Village
What is baby led or demand feeding?
Baby led feeding implies that we learn to read our baby's cues and feed our baby accordingly i.e. as often and for as long as our babies want to, and not according to the clock.
Learning about your baby's cues.
An example of a baby's cues:
When your baby starts to wake up after a good sleep, she tends to wriggle and squirm.
If left alone she tends to become more restless and may turn her head from side to side and put her fingers or fists into her mouth.
If left alone for longer she begins to make little noises, which if ignored become louder and louder and develop into a full bellowed cry.
The best time to feed your baby is when she indicates to you that she is hungry by turning her head from side to side and/or putting her fingers or fists into her mouth.
Leaving her to cry loudly may be too late, as she would need to be settled before you could feed her. This statement must also be taken in the right context; there will obviously be times when you are unable to immediately tend to your baby's needs. As parents we can only strive do our best and no more.
The so called quiet alert time, when your baby has just woken or, after her feed when she is still awake but very calm, is a good time to massage, bath or just spend time communicating with your baby.