Katlego Sekhu
This week marks a year since South African media personality Masechaba Ndlovu welcomed her baby boy into the world. Reflecting on this special day, Ndlovu recalled the intense contractions she experienced.
“We were just arriving at the hospital where our miracle baby was born at exactly 14h39. After a seamless birth experience, we were blessed with a healthy baby boy whom we aptly named Lukhanyo Lwezizwe, who has not only been a light in our lives, but a light to anyone he encounters,” she recounted.
When announcing her son’s birth last year, Ndlovu wrote a heartfelt letter expressing her excitement over his arrival.
(Letter to my newborn son)
Dear Lukhanyo,
Welcome to the world my son!
Your dad and I are ecstatic that you are finally here. Although it’s been 2 weeks, it feels like 2 MONTHS, as we’ve barely gotten any sleep!I honestly don’t know how I would have coped if it were not for your dad. Steve Harvey says ”there are fathers and there are daddys”. Anyone can be a father; but you have a daddy. With the exception of the nurse who gave you your first bath at the hospital while your daddy proudly observed, your dad is the only person who has bathed you since you were born. It’s become your daddy-baby bonding time in the evenings. It gives me so much joy to just relax and watch him render such a powerful act of service to you. I’m in awe every single day.
Ndlovu also mentioned the challenges they faced in the early days, including supplementing with formula when her milk supply was low.
The first few days were tough and we had to top up with formula. Your dad encouraged me every day & he believed in what I was trying to do, even during that initial period when my milk was not sufficient for you. Your dad never stopped believing & instead encouraged & even assisted me to latch you on my breast before your bottle feeds. With each passing day, the top ups became less frequent & smaller in quantity and eventually we abandoned the formula altogether.
Now, the only time you’re not breastfeeding is when you are bathing or sleeping! Uyalithanda ibele mntwana-bantu! 🙆🏽♀️ And we love it for you! 😄 So much so, that we have fully embraced waking up at unGodly hours to feed you. I say ‘we’ because your daddy is right there in the trenches with me at 2am when I am up for feeds. Either passing the wet wipes while we change your nappy or holding up the cellphone flashlight so we can see during loadshedding.”
In concluding her letter, Ndlovu expressed her love for Lukhanyi, highlighting how excited her siblings are to have him in their lives.
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