When Zeituni Juma, 23, gave birth to her son, the baby weighed 1.9 kilograms, and experienced breathing difficulties associated with low birthweight. They remained in hospital for two weeks as the baby received care.
By the third week, her breathing had improved, and she was discharged. She stayed home for another two weeks and when she visited the hospital for clinic, her son's weight had dropped to 1.3 kilograms.
"I had difficulties breastfeeding. I could not latch my baby properly, my breasts were painful and I wasn't able to feed him every two hours," she recalls.
At home, Zeituni says she walked four kilometers to a well to fetch water twice a day, in addition to washing dishes and cooking. These responsibilities sometimes kept her away from her baby and disrupted the baby's feeding schedule.
"If I did not complete the household chores, I would be scolded. So, I only breastfed my baby twice a day, in the morning and evening. When she is asleep, I'd wake her up to feed before the day begins. Also, I was not eating a balanced diverse diet, which I felt affected my breastmilk supply."
After joining the African Research Leadership (ARL) study, Zeituni shared her breastfeeding challenges with the peer mother who then explained to her the importance of frequent breastfeeding to maintain breastmilk supply and benefits to her baby's growth.
She also shared the information with her husband, who intervened. Together, the family agreed that Zeituni and her sisters-in-law would share the household chores. "One of my sisters-in-law would fetch water, the one would cook and I would do the dishes," she says.
With more time to breastfeed, Zeituni began applying what she had learned about breastfeeding positions and proper attachment. She also started eating a more varied diet.
"At six months, my baby's weight has tripled, and he is weighing 6.2 kilograms. I thank my husband for standing with me and supporting my breastfeeding journey."
For Zeituni, improving breastfeeding was not simply a matter of learning how to position and attach her baby. She also needed enough time to breastfeed, adequate food and relatives willing to share the household work.
When husbands and other family members share household chores and care for older children, they reduce the mother's physical workload and give her more time to rest, breastfeed and care for her baby. This support is especially important because producing breast milk requires additional energy.
Additionally, by family members being supportive and protecting breastfeeding, they reduce the immense pressure from introduction of traditional feeds, water, porridge / shielding the mother from doubt and conflicting advice if the baby seems small or fussy.
