Breastfed Baby is Healthy and Smart

My name is Feriadi, commonly called Ina Gamawa. I have two daughters and a son. I live in Lasara Bot Village, Botomuzoi Sub District, Nias District. I want to tell my experience in exclusively breastfeeding my third baby, Kima. She is two years now.

My youngest child was born at my own house. There was no health worker to help me during the delivery process and I had to cut my baby's umbilical cord.

When Kima was two months old, my mother-in-law and my husband asked that I give Kima a meal. They were afraid Kima would get sick if she only consumed breast milk. Patiently I explained to them about the counseling I received and wanted to prove the advice of Wahana Visi Indonesia staff on exclusively breastfeeding.

Although I had a young baby, I continued my work and tapped rubber sap. I am grateful that our rubber field is near my house so it enables me to go home every one to two hours to breastfeed Kima. I always ask my mother-in-law to call me if my baby is crying. For six months, I tried hard to only give Kima breastmilk. After exclusively breastfeeding Kima for six months, I noticed the difference between Kima and her older brother and sister. I only breastfed my first baby for four months and my second baby for three months. Kima is healthier than her older brother and sister.

After Kima was six months old, I introduced her to food while I kept breastfeeding. I rarely gave her instant food. I enjoy the benefit of breastfeeding. It is practical, easy, and cheap. Kima has good health. She has never suffered from diarrhea as her brother and sister did. Kima is also smart and easily understands our explanation.

*Written by Yohana D Manao, Wahana Visi Indonesia at Nias operational office