Breastmilk drive after Durban North mother dies

IN the wake of the tragic passing of anti gender-based violence activist and Durban North resident, Tamsyn Elaine Allison, close friend, Taryn Turner is collecting breast milk donations for the baby boy who was born the week before his mother died.

The mother of five passed away on 28 April in hospital due to post birth complications.

“She was a really good friend of mine. We shared a similar outlook on life. We shared similar views on raising our children. Doing something for her family is really important to me,” said Turner.

“Tamsyn was such an advocate for breast feeding. She breastfed all her children. In her second-to-last post on Facebook, she was looking for donor milk because she knew she was going into hospital and she was concerned she wouldn’t be able to produce enough for her baby,” she added. 

Turner, who is a homeopath and post-natal dolah emphasised the nutritional benefits of breast milk.

Also read: Durban mourns loss of GBV activist

“Breast milk is so important because it’s not just an alternative to formula, its contains antibodies and it’s a whole food. I see so many moms not breastfeeding, perhaps because we have lost that ‘village’ around women. There is so much focus on the birth- we do anti natal classes and we don’t think about what it takes to look after the baby and the mom afterwards. Breastfeeding is about looking after the mom, after birth,” she said.

Claire McHugh, a Durban North based dietitian specialising in pediatrics confirmed breastmilk is the best option where possible.

“Human milk is the very best thing for a baby, especially a newborn. If there’s an opportunity to give the baby human milk that is first prize. There’s also evidence that the ingredients in human milk could never be replicated by formula. On the other hand, infant formulas are designed to nourish babies when human milk is not available,” she said.

Also read: Can a good diet boost your immune system?

Turner said all breast milk donations are screened.

“I use the screening forms from the donor milk bank in Durban. Milk is collected frozen in breast milk bags or containers- any mom that’s breastfeeding knows how to store her milk,” she added.For more information, contact Turner via email: tarynturner@vodamail.co.za or visit the back a buddy page: In Loving Memory of Tamsyn Allison.

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