Each year, World Breastfeeding Week arrives as a quiet insistence that the act of nursing a child is not merely biological instinct but a demanding physical and emotional undertaking requiring deliberate care. Across South Africa and the world, specialists are reminding new mothers that their bodies need 500 to 700 additional calories daily, sustained hydration, and genuine rest — not as comforts, but as necessities. Behind these practical recommendations lies a larger truth: when mothers are properly supported, the ripple effects reach far beyond the nursing chair, with the WHO estimating tha
Breastfeeding mothers need 500-700 extra daily calories; here's how to support your body
Inadequate breastfeeding support contributes to preventable child and maternal deaths; WHO estimates 400,000 child deaths and 140,000 maternal deaths annually could be prevented through improved breastfeeding practices.