Some of the mothers we work with are undernourished and so are unable to produce breast milk. We recently started a "mummy and me" group at the dump site. I learned a few things....
For many of the mums buying powder milk is not even an option. It costs P11 for one sachet of milk. That's the cheapest brand. The mums told me that when they cannot afford this they purchase a sachet at P3- but not a sachet of milk- a sachet of coffee. They shared that much of the time even a shachet of coffee is out their budget and so they give their babies *am.
*am is the local name for the left over water that the rice is cooked in.
So the order goes like this
breast milk- powder milk- coffee- rice water.
The amazing women in the mothers group reminded me of the continual dilemmas they face. Its really daily survival. They fight every day just to make sure their babies have something to drink.
They are warrior mums.
One Sunday morning a women with a wash of fear across her face came rushing to us holding a tiny bundle of rags. It was a new born baby boy. The women was a neighbour and she told us in a panic how the mother was trying to sell him.At first i thought how awful it was and then i shut my mouth and listened.
Lis already had 6 children. Her husband lay in a shack they called home, sick with tuberculosis. She worked bagging up charcoal on the dump earning about P100-P200. She was working until the day she gave birth. Her frail and undernourished body could not make milk. She was desperate.How could she possibly feed this baby boy?
When we spoke to Lis about the possibility of finding her baby a home she told us she did not really want to get rid of him atall and that she loved him. But she felt he would die is she kept him and so was trying to give him a better life. A life where he could eat.Through the kindness of one of our partners we were able to offer a life line. We could buy milk and deliver it every week for the baby. Milk was the difference between a baby being sold to who knows where and being kept with his family.
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| SIMPLE AS MILK |
I absolutely cannot even imagine how distressed I would be if I could not feed my son. I remember when he would not latch on one night and I was in such a state! What if I really could not feed him?How heartbreaking. How would I be able to even function? I'd be consumed with worry.As look at our beautiful son lying beside me now, well fed, healthy- I thank God. I really thank God.
A woman called Vee who comes to the group told me some of her story.My ears heard her but it wasn't until later on that my heart began to take it in.Sometimes the ladies talk of loss and tragedy as though its a normal part of life.
Her 17 year old daughter died very soon after giving birth. The doctor in the government clinic told the family it was "just a complication".
Vee was left suddenly caring for a new born baby. She too already had a new born baby. Through her grief she nurtured as best she could 2 new lives. I could see in her eyes how hard her life was.Yet she never once complained. As she spoke the 2 babies (now around 1) played around her feet unaware of the daily battle their Mama faced just to keep them breathing. For this woman to have a weekly delivery of milk would be one less burden to carry.
I'm in awe of Vee and many in the slums like her. They find the strength to go on and fight to keep their baby alive. As they struggle on- they smile. Through their worry- they worship.In their burdens-they believe a better day will come.Though their load is so very heavy, they love their children.Warrior mums.
We are so grateful to those people who pledge monthly for milk. You make it possible for us to help some of the babies most in need. Thank you.
There are more waiting....
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| baby jimmy 2 months |
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| baby jimmy 3 months later |
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