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By Winnie Kamau
Kilifi County, Kenya – When Emily Karisa gave birth to her second child, she was determined to give her baby the best possible start in life through breastfeeding. Like many new mothers, however, she soon realized that breastfeeding is a journey that comes with questions, challenges, and the need for support.
Fortunately, help was close at hand.
During her stay at the hospital, Emily met Sophia Saha, a trained breastfeeding peer supporter whose guidance gave her the confidence and practical skills she needed to successfully breastfeed her baby.
“When I went to the hospital, I met Madam Sophia, who explained to me how I could produce enough milk for my children,” Emily recalls. “First of all, you are not supposed to be stressed because milk production is affected by psychological factors. If you are stressed, it can affect milk production and make it more difficult to produce enough milk.”
The advice was simple but powerful. Instead of feeling anxious about whether she was producing enough milk, Emily learned that her emotional well-being was just as important as her physical health.
Sophia also equipped her with practical skills that many first-time and even experienced mothers may not receive in enough detail.
“She taught me that when you want to express milk, the first thing you need to consider is the hygiene of your hands,” says Emily. “Secondly, you should ensure that the container you are using is clean.”
Proper hygiene when expressing and storing breast milk helps protect babies from infections while ensuring that expressed milk remains safe for feeding.
Emily also learned techniques to encourage milk flow when breastfeeding became difficult.
“If you are not able to produce milk, you can gently massage your breasts to help stimulate milk flow and make it easier to produce milk,” she explains.
For Sophia Saha, supporting mothers like Emily is about much more than providing technical advice. It is about walking alongside women during one of the most important periods of their lives.
“Many times I meet mothers, especially those who are breastfeeding, to help ensure the baby is latching properly, maintaining good hygiene, and following a diet that supports milk production, among other important practices,” Sophia says.
Her work begins in the maternity ward but does not end when a mother leaves the hospital.
“I teach the mothers when they are admitted to the hospital and continue to support them even after they are discharged,” she explains.
This continued support helps mothers navigate common breastfeeding challenges, including concerns about milk supply, proper positioning, expressing breast milk, and maintaining exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of a baby’s life.
Breastfeeding peer supporters bridge the gap between health facilities and communities by providing practical, culturally appropriate advice and emotional encouragement. Their shared experiences often make it easier for mothers to ask questions and seek help without fear of judgment.
For Emily, having someone who listened, reassured her, and offered practical guidance transformed her breastfeeding journey.
Instead of feeling overwhelmed, she gained the confidence to nourish her child while understanding that successful breastfeeding is not simply instinctive, it is a skill that can be learned and strengthened through support.
As the world marks World Breastfeeding Week, Emily’s story highlights the vital role that breastfeeding peer supporters play in helping mothers overcome challenges, build confidence, and give their babies the healthiest possible start in life.
Their message is simple yet profound: with the right information, encouragement, and continued support, no mother has to face her breastfeeding journey alone.
