Friday, March 29, 2024

‘Why mothers should love exclusive breastfeeding more than their breasts’

Can save lives of 100,000 Nigerian babies annually – Experts

Whether mothers breast feed their babies or not, their

breasts will certainly sag one day. Looking at the scientifically proven benefits of exclusive breastfeeding, any mother who values the shape of her breasts more than the survival of her baby,  no doubt, debases the value of motherhood. Immediately after delivery, the first concern of a mother who desires a healthy and sound baby, should be how to initiate breastfeeding as soon as possible within the first hour.

Early initiation of breastfeeding within hour of birth, UNICEF says,  provides baby’s first vaccine.

According to the UN agency, delaying breastfeeding by two to 23 hours after birth increases the risk of dying in the first 28 days of life by 40 per cent. Delaying it by 24 hours or more increases that risk to 80 per cent.

 

Findings by  the Lancet Breastfeeding Series, revealed that improving breastfeeding practices could save approximately 100,000 lives in Nigeria each year. The findings also showed  that increasing breastfeeding rates could add $150million to Nigeria’s economy

 

After putting the baby to the breast,  another concern  of the mother should be  getting a suitable sitting position that will promote uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact between  her and her baby.

It is not the time for the mother to begin to think about the size and shape of her breasts and how to quickly go back to the shape she  were before pregnancy. Her priority this time  should be how to put her breasts to maximum use in the first six months of life of her baby by practicing exclusive breast feeding.

According to the World Health Organisation , exclusive breastfeeding means that the infant receives only breast milk for the first six months of life. No other liquids or solids are given – not even water – with the exception of oral rehydration solution, or drops/syrups of vitamins, minerals or medicines.

The benefits of exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of life of infants and to the mothers themselves, going by available evidence,  are so precious to be toyed with by any mother for whatsoever reason. The wonderful bond mothers create with their babies when they are breastfeeding, is like no other, let alone the health benefits to the baby in particular. Breastfeeding saves lives and a known weapon of child survival.

WHO affirms that breast milk contains all the nutrients an infant needs in the first six months of life.

It notes that breastfeeding protects against diarrhoea and common childhood illnesses such as pneumonia, and may also have longer-term health benefits for the mother and child, such as reducing the risk of overweight and obesity in childhood and adolescence. 

Findings by  the Lancet Breastfeeding Series, revealed that improving breastfeeding practices could save approximately 100,000 lives in Nigeria each year. The findings also showed  that increasing breastfeeding rates could add $150million to Nigeria’s economy. Evidence also shows that exclusive breastfeeding can help prepare Nigeria’s children for a prosperous future as exclusively breast-fed children are associated with higher intelligence.

As noted by Lancet, breastfeeding is one of the most cost-effective and impactful interventions for reducing malnutrition and under-five mortality both of which are high in Nigeria.

But despite the overwhelming benefits of exclusive breastfeeding, data from the Federal Ministry of Health show that mothers and infants are missing out as only 25 percent of children under six months of age in Nigeria are exclusively breastfed which many experts have attributed to the rise in child malnutrition.

The high burden of child malnutrition in the country was further confirmed earlier this year by the  officially released results of the Fifth Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey (MICS5), conducted in 2016 and 2017, which  showed  that malnutrition among children under five years had worsened in Nigeria with the highest concerns in northern states.

However, experts say exclusive breastfeeding remains a simple technology that could reverse the trend. They maintained that promoting exclusive breastfeeding is one of the smartest investments a country could make.

“Early breastfeeding can make the difference between life and death,” says  France Bégin, UNICEF Senior Nutrition Adviser .

Speaking in an interview with our correspondent in Lagos, Technical Advisor, Infant and Young Child Feeding/Nutrition, Alive & Thrive, Dr. Sylvester Igbedioh, said early initiation of infant to breastmilk, exclusive breastfeeding and appropriate complementary feeding were critical for optimal growth and development of a child. Alive & Thrive is  funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and  managed by FHI360.

Calling for a behavioural  change among mothers, Igbedioh reminded them that water is not necessary for a child under six months, insisting that breast milk only was enough for the child’s  physical and mental development.

“ Based on available survey, we are not making progress over the years. But we must make progress. Mothers must embrace exclusive breastfeeding. Promoting exclusive breastfeeding is promoting development. And mothers should not be giving water to their babies under six months if the weather is hot,” he said.

Igbedioh appealed to health workers to support mothers to initiate breastfeeding immediately after delivery, adding that with exclusive breastfeeding, a lot could be achieved in Nigeria.

To further ensure optimal growth of every child in the country, a Consultant Paediatrian and Head, Neonatology Unit, Department of Paediatrics, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Prof. Chinyere Ezeaka, suggested that both mothers and physicians should embark on nutrition education and counselling, stressing that nutrition remains the hallmark of child survival. Ezeaka, who is President, Nigeria Society of Neonatal Medicine , also identified exclusive breastfeeding as key strategy to reducing child malnutrition. She explained: ”Once nutrition is compromised, beginning from conception and lack of exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of life, you see the child developing many problems like, diarrhea and
malnutrition.”

On her part, Technical Advisor, Policy and Advocacy, Alive& Thrive, Mrs. Toyin Adewale-Gabriel, urged the government to take all necessary action to end inappropriate promotion and marketing  of breast-milk substitutes.

Adewale-Gabriel also called for the creation of supportive environments  in work places that would encourage and  help mothers to continue breastfeeding after returning to work.

Popular Articles