January News

We have had another incredible holiday season, witnessing Christmas and New Year’s babies being born. Sincere and heartfelt thanks to our incredible volunteers who ensured that only 1 scheduled holiday visit was missed. I’m so proud of Bosom Buddies!

Smiling Faces this Christmas

2012 is starting with excitement in the air for Bosom Buddies. We are starting our antenatal courses in early February in Macassar and Sir Lowry’s Pass. Our manual is ready to be printed, we have been blessed by donations  of cups and an urn to be able to make tea for our classes. In a sentence: we are ready!
Let’s not forget why this is so important: at every single hospital visit, our volunteers meet mothers with premature babies, sick babies or stillborn babies – most of which is preventable. Antenatal care is available at clinics all through the Helderberg, but sadly the clinic sisters do not have time to discuss all do’s and don’ts of pregnancy with every single patient. There is no talk of classes. In the private sectors, most mothers (and fathers too!) are encouraged to attend childbirth education classes. These are offered by most private hospitals, usually over 6/8-week periods. Moreover, most mothers giving birth in the private sector are better educated (please excuse my generalization, but this is largely true), and have better access to the internet and educational books. They read up and talk about pregnancy. They know what to eat, how to exercise, to not smoke, drink, use drugs etc. They know what to expect during labour and birth.  The poor woman in the township does not have this. She sees how it’s done by her sister, aunt, mother and friends and in this is the central issue: there is a culture of existence, rather than searching to LIVE. Sadly. At Bosom Buddies we have dreamed for a long time to tackle this. We have attempted classes before, but these did not work out. There are further challenges. Language, culture, class and this attitude of simply being with no curiosity or longing for learning. It is hard to explain. I suppose our foreign readers will struggle to understand.

This is why I am so excited about our new venture: We are not expecting anyone to come to us to learn – we are going to them. I am going to Macassar, to Sir Lowry’s Pass, into someone’s house, where I will be talking to her and her friends about pregnancy, about birth, about breastfeeding and taking care of her baby. We will have tea, we will laugh and complain and we will learn. The hope is that these women will then be ambassadors in the communities and spread the knowledge.

Please continue praying for Bosom Buddies. Although I love what I do, I love the moms, I love the babies and the nurses and my colleagues, it is challenging and sometimes it’s pretty hard.