Doctors recommend breast milk but, in reality, not all mothers are physically able to and choose baby formula instead to feed their babies. There are many factors that make it difficult for mothers, like Lika, to breastfeed. Lika came to Mother's Heart Organization late in her pregnancy. She was an orphan and was raised by her kind neighbors. She was from a rougher part of town and the family she lived with was very poor. From a young age, Lika didn't always have enough. Now I her early 20s, it was easy to see that she had been malnourished for most of her life. After only a couple of weeks after being referred to MHO, Lika gave birth a month prematurely. The baby was tiny and needed to put on weight right away. MHO staff assessed Lika's situation. She was malnourished and auite sick when she gave birth. All these has weakened her body and affected her ability to produce sufficient breast milk. We knew that she would immediately need nourishing and extra care to rebuild her nutrients supply and be able to breastfeed, and began helping her. First, by providing her food rich in nutrients and minerals and, second, coaching her on breastfeeding techniques. Despite Lika's efforts, she could not produce enough milk for her baby girl's needs. It was then we knew that the baby needed formula to supplement her feeding. Her malnutrition has affected her health adversely that remaining on baby formula was her best option.
Lika is not the only one who has struggles with breastfeeding. MHO helps mothers, like Lika, so they don't feel bad about their choice. What is important is she's making sure her baby is well-fed.
*** And, please, DON'T FORGET. GlobalGiving's Little by Little campaign is still ongoing. Any small donation you give us this week will be matched at 60%. To know more about MHO's program and how to support life-changing activities for more vulnerable women and their babies, click this link .
Common single-parent challenges
As a single parent, you might have sole responsibility for all aspects of day-to-day child care. Being a single mother can result in added pressure, stress and fatigue.
Single-parent families also generally have lower incomes and less access to health care. Juggling work and child care can be financially difficult and socially isolating.
Positive strategies
1. Show your love. Remember to praise your child. Give him or her your unconditional love and support. Set aside time each day to play, read or simply sit with your child.
2. Create a routine.
3. Set limits. Explain house rules and expectations to your child — such as speaking respectfully — and enforce them. Consider re-evaluating certain limits, such as your child's screen time, when he or she shows the ability to accept more responsibility.
4. Don't feel guilty. Don't blame yourself or spoil your child to make up for being a single parent.
5. Take care of yourself. Include physical activity in your daily routine, eat a healthy diet and get plenty of sleep. 6. Arrange time to do activities you enjoy alone or with friends. Give yourself a "timeout" by arranging for child care at least a few hours a week.
7. Lean on others. Call on loved ones, friends and neighbors for help. Faith communities can be helpful resources, too.
8. Stay positive. It's OK to be honest with your child if you're having a difficult time, but remind him or her that things will get better. Give your child an age-appropriate level of responsibility rather than expecting him or her to behave like a "little adult." Keep your sense of humor when dealing with everyday challenges.
Our story starts with a little boy named Sisoroth*, he was born a little over a year ago. His mother is a very young orphan. His dad left when he was still in her womb. When he was born, Sisoroth* had a very small cranium. It instantly looked suspicious to our staff, and we sent him to see doctors to check that his development was going well.
The specialists we sent his mother to were not very helpful. She came back saying that one of them even told her that he had no brain. Another one said that he was “fine”.
But we never gave up.
We finally called a young Canadian doctor who was practicing in Phnom Penh for a year, and she was able to give us the contact of a doctor who had access to an MRI machine.
We finally got to get a full diagnosis, so we could support him and his mum. It was a microcephaly: signs and symptoms of microcephaly may include a smaller than normal head circumference that usually remains smaller than normal as the child grows, delayed motor and speech functions, mental retardation, balance and coordination problems, and other brain-related or neurological problems. There is no treatment to change the head size. Even though there is no cure, we researched his disability and knew that Sisoroth* needed regular physiotherapy and special care in order to develop his motor skills.
While at the hospital, the chief doctor came to us, and asked for our support. He had been trying to find families and placements for 20 children that were abandoned on the premises. All of them presented disabilities ranging from mental impairment to severe physical handicaps. Some had been living there for eight years, with no possibility of going outside. Years restricted to one small room without proper stimulation. It was heartbreaking.
We didn’t know how we could help at first. Our primary mission is to support women during a crisis pregnancy, and even though we partner with organisations that find permanent foster families, finding placement for 20 children seemed like an impossible task.
But when we visited the room the children were in, we knew we couldn’t just go home and forget their little faces. With no one to call “mama," with little love, and certainly not the care they needed.
Our team started talking to all of our partners. We spent hours on the phone, we met other NGOs, we spread the word.
Once again, we persisted.
The little ones were filling up our dreams, our nights and we believed that we were sent to help.
Thanks to our partners at Save The Children, at Mlup Russey, Sisters Of Mercy, CIF, the Ministry of Social Affairs, and many more, 15 children have been placed in permanent foster care, or relevant institutions.
We are proud to be part of a movement to make Cambodia a better place.
We know our work is not finished.
None of this would have been possible without your support.
You provide us with the necessary means to keep our operations running. You donate money, clothes, food, and moral support. It’s not easy to be where we are needed, but thanks to you, we provide assistance to more than 100 women and children every year.
Today, we need you more than ever.
You can change the lives of Sisoroth* who still needs weekly physiotherapy, of Panha* who we support in finding a great job (read the story on our blog), and ensure the future of many women and children that will need our services before the end of the year.
With as little as $20, you will provide a scan and antenatal checkup to a single mother. We know times are hard and we thank you for donating as much as you can to our cause.
To donate follow these links:
UK and US
http://bit.ly/2qAjlM8
AUSTRALIA
http://bit.ly/2QiY6N1
CAMBODIA
You can transfer money through Wing to our phone number, 012602384, and text us the password.
*Names have been modified to respect our users' anonymity
