A group of nurses of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Jiangxia District of Wuhan City, give thumbs-up to cheer each other up. [China Women's News]

Seven nurses in a hospital in Wuhan, all breast-feeding moms ranging from 26 to 43 years old, weaned their babies from breast milk within three days, when their workplace, the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Jiangxia District, was designated to admit patients infected with the novel coronavirus on January 23.

The decision to stop breastfeeding was quite hard, but they are willing to devote themselves wholeheartedly to the anti-virus fight.

Personal sacrifice should be made to deal with the crisis, explained Fang Wenjun, a 30-year-old nurse with a 10-month-old baby, whom she has not seen for 18 days.

"There was a time when I was eager to see my baby. I ran back to the residential community but dared not go upstairs, so I called my husband and asked him to carry the baby to the balcony for a look, but unfortunately, the baby fell asleep, and I did not see my baby......"Fang said.

Selflessness and dedication are essential virtues for medical personnel, she added.

Peng Min, born in 1988, gave birth to her second child five months ago. She began to work in the quarantine area on January 24, the day after she stopped breastfeeding.

"People all over the country are helping Wuhan. We have to show great courage to defeat the virus," she said.

Peng has been a nurse for nine years in the hospital. She is now an experienced worker in her department.

Peng said she looked forward to the victory of the anti-virus fight so she can reunite with her family.

She also thanked her parents for their selfless support and help.

Just like Peng, 43-year-old Liu Fengmei and 32-year-old Tian Huan also have two children.

Liu, the oldest among the seven nurses, said she feels a little like an unqualified mother since she weaned her 7-month-old baby from breast milk, but she believes that the child will surely understand what she has done at the critical time when the child grows up.

She was pleased that her elder daughter supported her decision and reminded her of personal protection from the virus.

Tian cannot meet her children after work. The WeChat app is the only way they can communicate.

Though she misses them very much, she has been sticking to her post as the patients need her more than her kids do at this critical moment.

Han Si, 26, the youngest mother among the seven nurses, said she has learned that the duty of nurses is serving patients and she is always ready to help them with her vocational skills.

Fu Sihui looks after 39 virus-infected patients with her 24 colleagues every day. She never complains about the heavy work and is always encouraging the patients to be optimistic in the anti-virus fight.

Unlike the other six nurses, Peng Jieyu faced strong opposition from her family when she made a decision to stop breastfeeding and start her work at the hospital ahead of schedule.

At that moment, the 29-year-old mother was still on her maternity leave, since her baby was no more than 4 months old.

"I love my job so much that I never think of leaving it, let alone being a deserter," she said.

She added: "If you were ill, but no nurse there was willing to attend to you, what would you think?" After patiently explaining this to her parents and in-laws, they finally accepted her decision.

Peng also wanted to be a good role model for her daughter. "I should set an example for my child. When she grows up she will understand my decision," Peng concluded.

(Source: China Women's News/Translated and edited by Women of China)