At present I am providing 30 gorgeous diaper bags per week which we sew. I am employing an awesome South African woman who I pay 1 day a week to sew and she works the other day for nothing. (she lives in the township so this is major!) She gets “the vision!!!!!!”
In each bag we put a blanket which we also sew, a vest (think u guys call it a T-shirt?), babygro, little cardigan, woolly hat, socks, a baby product, sanitary pads for mom and a packet of home baked cookies like crunchies or shortbread. We attach a card to the bag and twice a week we go down to my local state hospital and spend time with each mom praying for her and her baby and just creating some excitement when we gift them the gift.
Unfortunately every time I go we have a stillborn baby or a woman in labor with a stillborn. Can you imagine?! We now make sure we have a bag for her with nothing baby on it. We pack it with pads, shampoo, toothbrush and paste, soap & facecloth and cookies for the mom with a sympathy card. She shares a ward with the mothers with their newborns and my heart breaks for her. I can only hold her a while and pray for her. It’s hard.
The hospital is high risk so we have plenty multiples and tiny little preemies. The preemie moms live in a tiny room and kanga care their babes until they are big enough to go home. They sleep on sleeper couches at night. Because they are not patients, they only get 1 meal a day. I have now provided a kettle & cups and keep a constant supply of tea and coffee, instant soup and bread. I have also organized them washing powder and a bucket to wash their clothing. I am trying to get them a microwave sponsored as well as a radio/CD player. There is so much I would like to still do for them as well as for the nurses but I am on my way.
The nurses don’t have a tearoom so they go sit in the loo when they need to cry and stamp their feet and just take time out. It’s big enough to put a chair and table in so that’s the next step along with painting it out and curtains.
Bosom Buddies has only been going since Feb so we have made great progress already! By next year I am hoping to do every mom which is about 220 a month. Sourcing the clothing is major and the mothers in my area have been rather disappointing. I thought I would get tons of second hand clothing but so far it’s been slow.
BUT……….. I am trusting God for provision as he has been so faithful so far!! Once I have everything down pat I intend to go to other areas to “sell” the idea so woman in those communities can take care of their own state hospital.
Anyway, a little about me……..
35 years old
Married to Gary Mom of Daniel who turns 10 in July, Rebeka who turns 4 next month, and Sofia who turns 2 next month
Doula by profession but never done a paid birth
Running Bosom Buddies Charity
Love the beach, my family, babies and mothers
Have always had a heart for African woman
Have 2 bunnies and 2 rats
Have NO dogs………they poo on my grass, sniff my groin, chew the toys, eat my kid’s food and lick their faces with their gross saliva. (have just looked after dogs for 2 months!)
If you have friends who have unwanted decent newborn or 1st size baby clothes and want to bless us, please ask them to keep aside for us, and send to:
Melanie Novitzkas
PO Box
2748
Somerset West
7129
Cape Province
SOUTH AFRICA
If you would like to send items locally in the United States, we can make arrangements. Please send me an email, and we will send you a US address.
Thank you,
Melanie
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