Family support helps mothers breastfeed better
DAR ES SALAAM: FOR many women, motherhood begins long before a baby is born. It starts with anticipation, advice from relatives, shopping for tiny clothes and wondering what life will be like once the child arrives.
But when the baby is finally placed in a mother’s arms, one of the first and most important acts is often breastfeeding. Health experts describe breast milk as a baby’s first natural food because it contains nutrients and antibodies that help protect infants from illness.
Yet for many mothers, breastfeeding is not always as easy as it sounds. Sore nipples, worries about milk supply, sleepless nights and pressure from family members can make the early days challenging. In many homes, grandmothers and older relatives offer advice based on tradition.
Some encourage giving water, porridge or herbal mixtures to a newborn, believing this helps the child grow stronger. However, health workers continue to encourage mothers to breastfeed exclusively for the first six months, meaning the baby receives only breast milk unless a doctor advises otherwise.
For 28-year-old Neema Mwakalinga from Morogoro, the first week after delivery was overwhelming.
“I thought I was not producing enough milk because my baby cried often,” she says.
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“A nurse showed me how to position the baby properly, and things became much easier.” Her experience is common. Many breastfeeding difficulties are linked not to lack of milk, but to incorrect attachment or positioning.
Midwives say a baby should take a large part of the areola into the mouth, not only the nipple, to reduce pain and allow effective feeding. Working mothers face another challenge. Women who return to offices, markets, farms or small businesses often struggle to continue breastfeeding.
Some wake up very early to feed the baby before leaving home, while others express milk for caregivers to give later. Public support, flexible workplaces and understanding employers can make a significant difference. Family support is equally important.
A breastfeeding mother needs rest, nutritious food and emotional encouragement. Husbands can help by assisting with household chores, preparing meals, caring for older children and protecting the mother’s time with the baby. Nutrition also matters.
Mothers do not need expensive foods to produce good milk. A balanced diet that includes staples such as ugali, rice, bananas or potatoes together with beans, vegetables, fruits, eggs, fish or meat when available, plus adequate fluids, is generally sufficient for most women.
Breastfeeding benefits mothers as well. It helps the uterus contract after delivery and may reduce bleeding in the early postpartum period. Many women also value the closeness it creates between mother and child. Experts encourage mothers to seek help if they experience severe breast pain, fever, redness, swelling or if the baby is not gaining weight well. Early support from a health facility can prevent complications.
As Tanzania continues to promote maternal and child health, breastfeeding remains one of the simplest and most powerful investments a family can make. It is more than feeding; it is comfort, protection and connection. For a newborn child, a mother’s milk is often the very first expression of love. And for many Tanzanian women, that first gift becomes the foundation of a healthier beginning for their children.
