Care pack donations boost prem moms at Dora Nginza

Dora Nginza dietician Lize van Wyk hands new mom Desiree Tarenthal her SPAR snack, hygiene and dignity packs

Happy mothers are known to produce more of the nutrient-rich breastmilk that is so important for her baby’s development.

This was a clinical fact that Dr Aldona Thomas, a paediatric consultant at Dora Nginza Hospital in Gqeberha, needed people to understand.

“A mom’s own immune cells are contained in breastmilk, which confers passive immunity to her child,” she explained. “Breastmilk also helps the child’s neuro development and protects against chronic illnesses in later life.”

Thomas and colleague Lize van Wyk, a dietician, are in the business of making new moms in the neonatal ward smile. In fact, enhancing breastmilk production among those with premature babies has become their speciality.

However, creating contentment among fledgling mothers is easier said than done, which is why a partnership with SPAR Eastern Cape is helping them in their quest.

One of its stores, SPAR Algoa Foods, has been providing snack, hygiene and dignity packs to prem mothers at Dora since last July.

Packs come colour-coded: Blue for food supplements such as milk, porridge, pilchards, tea and coffee; pink for hygiene products such as wash cloths, roll-on deodorant, soap and pads for the mom; and Grey for nappies, cream, wet wipes, cotton wool and Vaseline.

“The food supplement the mother’s diet and this makes her happier,” Thomas explained.

She referred to an infection outbreak in 2023 that had been combated by increasing the mothers’ breastmilk production.

The team at the hospital have gone to the lengths of the earth to raise money for their cause. At one point they baked goods to sell while also receiving donations from churches.

But that was merely a drop in the ocean.

Their next step was to approach the hospital board to apply for external donations.

SPAR EC immediately picked up the torch – according to Thomas, the “only one to step up to the plate”.

Now the hospital receives 24 each of the blue, pink and grey packs twice a month while Algoa Foods also replenishes stock when needed.

“We are very grateful,” Van Wyk said. “When we give mommies those packs, they jump up and down.”

“I can see the difference it is making. Every second referral used to be because of problems with breastmilk production and this has changed.”

Babies born before their due date are admitted to the hospital’s prem ward and then transferred to the Kangaroo Mother Care facility once they weigh 1.2kg.

When they reach 1.6kg and breastfeeding has stabilised, the mother and her baby are discharged.

Van Wyk’s job is to establish what the new-born is taking in through breastmilk and then to work out a nutrition plan for parent and child alike.

“I can determine what I need to add. We have a fortifier that we add to breastmilk to increase the energy and protein content.”

She does regular follow-ups to monitor weight and other aspects and plots these values on a chart. She attends to between 24 and 38 mothers and their babies every day.

Thomas said doctors typically identified possible issues when they did their rounds.

Some infections may be transmitted in-utero and, if the mother’s medication is not safe for the baby to consume, they may substitute hers with donated breastmilk or formula.

Another headache is that patients are referred to Dora Nginza from as far as Cradock and Middelburg.

Not expecting to be transferred, expectant moms arrive in Gqeberha completely unprepared in terms of clothing and provisions. They also have to make do without their normal support system.

Being so unsettled affects breastmilk production. This, Thomas said, was why SPAR’s donations were having such an impact.

“They didn’t give us any red tape. They just came on board and were really patient with us.

“The investment they are making is longstanding because they are investing in the future of the country.”