Cristina (fictional name), suffered in its own flesh the fatal clash that consists in living a pregnancy Full of illusion and lose your baby being a newborn.
In June 2024when I had 40 weeks of gestationhe waited for his firstborn, which would be born through a Natural delivery. The process was not as he imagined, the little one aspired meconiumthe first fecal matter that a baby expels and had to undergo a emergency caesarean section.
Despite the delicate situation, Cristina began to form his Milk Bank extrading colostrum Because doctors gave him a good prognosis.
Unfortunately, on the third day of her birth, the little girl did not survive, but the body of Cristina I continued with the milk productionreaching freeze those first ounces.
“One is going through pain, but thinking that it can benefit someone from something that your body produces,” was the engine that took it to donate your milk.
When he reached Milk Bankhe learned that the colostrum that with so much effort he had collected no longer served because he had frozen more than 15 days in which the sample is viable.
“My milk was lost due to ignorance, because nobody guided me. I was waiting to heal me from the wound of caesarean section and that’s why it took me a month to take it. I had all the intention, but not the information“The 38 -year -old woman lamented.
With perinatal psychotherapists, Cristina learned to live his duelrecognizing that one of the most difficult moments was when a Cutting medication the milk production.
“It was literally like Cut that threadthat bond you have with your baby, “he said.
The mother understands that in Dominican Republic It is necessary to reinforce the Prenatal talks so that other women who live a similar situation can send their Bank milk in a prudent time and help those Mothers that for some reason they are not able to breastfeed.
“It’s a your baby’s legacy That came to help other babies, “he said.
World Breastfeeding Week
Every year, of the August 1 to 7 The World Breastfeeding Weekestablished since 1992 by the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and in collaboration with the Pro Project Alliance Lactation Maternal
For this year 2025 the motto chosen was: “Let’s prioritize breastfeeding: contributing to Support systems sustainable. “
In this regard, Dr. Tamy Santana, in charge of the Maternal Child Program of the Ministry of Public Health, said that at a global level, only 38 % of newborns receive exclusive breastfeedingwhile Dominican Republic The figure is just 16 %, according to the Enhogar-Mics survey of the National Statistics Office (One) 2019.
According to a UNICEF report, in 2024, 5 out of 6 children do not receive exclusive breastfeeding In RD, highlighting that breastfeeding rates They are higher in countries where they apply friendly policies For the family.
“This year, the actions are focused on strengthening the Support systems institutional and community, so that all Mothers They have the necessary support to breastfeed successfully, “Santana said.
“Accompaniment must start from the prenatal period, with trained health personnel that easier and empathic, and continue during the hospital stay and then discharge, to face common challenges, strengthen maternal trust and facilitate Return to work“The specialist said.
Until last June 11, in the Dominican Republic there was only the human milk bank Dr. Josefina Ecén, located in the motherhood Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia. Actually, at the Marcelino Vélez Hospital, a second unit of collection and pasteurization of breast milk, open to the public operates.
Juana Ferreras, a neonatal pediatrician and director of this center, commented that in the Herrera hospital educational talks are being taught to all pregnant women who go to their consultation for the first time, as a way of encouraging exclusive breastfeeding.
The doctor acknowledged that before the little time of operation, they have not been able to complete a large amount of storage, perhaps reaching about 200 cc, since the extracted milk is being used in babies that are admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (UCIN).
To donate, Ferreras recalled that it must be a fresh milk, extracted in a space of no more than 15 days and mothers must present their recent analytics of viral tests: hepatitis, syphilis and HIV.
For its part, the Bank of Maternity La Altagracia has received more than 9,000 donor mothers since it began its services in 2011.
Benefits to the mother and baby
Reynaldo Jiménez, president of the Dominican Society of Pediatrics, stressed that, from the clinical part, the human milk Funge as the first immunization that the newborn receives, due to the antibodies They pass from mother to son.
Amplify the initiatives and flexibilities for infants, both from the public and private sector (as well as the contribution of the related health unions) contributes to the prevention and preservation of childhood health in its most vulnerable stage of life.
“The scientific evidence has shown that children who are briefing exclusively, at least during the first six months of life, get sick less and are less exposed to the use of antibiotics,” he said Carmen Sarah Mota, Infectologist pediatrician.
The exclusive breastfeeding and its complementary continuation up to two years or more offers proven benefits, such as:
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Strengthening child immunity
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Protection against chronic diseases
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Improvements in cognitive development
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Favoring postpartum recovery
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Reduction Cancer risks in the mother
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Economical savings not having to buy formulas
How to support Mothers?
The president of the Dominican Association of Perinatal Psychology (ADPP), Angy Estévez, calls for a social awareness to encourage and promote a culture of Breastfeeding support in public in adequate and safe environments.
The specialist points out that many Mothers They face great challenges and obstacles that go beyond physical or logistics difficulties, being the Social pressure And the expectations of the environment, one of the most common.
“The Mothers that they perceived a strong social judgment regarding their decision to breastfeed, reported higher levels of stress, anxiety and difficulties in maintaining the lactation. The Social pressure can convert the lactation In an emotional and psychological challenge that complicates the experience, “says the psychologist, alluding to a study published in the Maternal Magazine & Child Nutrition.
- Given the possible risk of abandonment of the lactation Due to prejudices and criticism, Estévez suggests some ideas:
- Increase adequate and suitable spaces in public or private places so that Mothers They can breastfeed their comfortable and difficulty babies.
- Specialized training for health professionals, in empathic and respectful approaches free of judgments.
- Promote preventive campaigns and programs based on evidence that foster knowledge of the benefits of lactation To disassemble myths in the infant community.
- Create support networks and safe spaces, free of judgments where Mothers can express their doubts and share experiences of lactationwithout external pressures.
- Approach to pressure and stress by psychological accompaniment with relaxation techniques.
- Promote a culture that supports lactation in public without accommodating social judgments and stigmas. This measure can be encouraged through public campaigns, school education, media, among others.
