Breastfeeding Does Not Make Breast Sag
The president of National Association of Nigeria Paediatric Nurses, Mrs Olubunmi Aiyedun says exclusive breastfeeding does not flatten or make breast sag.Breastfeeding Does Not Make Breast Sag
Aiyedun made this known at a forum of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.
The paediatrician, who noted that a lot of women prefer not to feed their babies exclusively due to fear of saggy or flattened breasts described such belief as a myth. Breastfeeding Does Not Make Breast Sag
According to Aiyedun, a woman’s breasts will sag later in life due to the fact that nature requires the breasts to rest, whether a woman breastfeeds exclusively or not.
She stressed the need for every nursing mother to exclusively breastfeed their babies, noting that it helps to reduce the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer.
Aiyedun also advised nursing mothers to wear good bras when breastfeeding as it helps in making the breasts firm.
On breast milk, the paediatrician said that it contains mostly water, adding that there was no reason to give babies water in the first six months after birth.
“Exclusive breastfeeding is economical and is also an ideal food for the baby as well as saves money for the family and the community.’’
Aiyedun also said that for exclusive breastfeeding to be effective and sustained there must be a good relationship with the gate keepers such as the head of communities, religious and traditional rulers amongst others.
This according to her is because such persons can influence women, especially nursing mothers positively or negatively.
She added that having a baby friendly environment for working class mothers was another measure in ensuring that exclusive breastfeeding would be sustained.
The health practitioner frowned at some cultural practices whereby some mothers gave their new born, water from the stream or goddess in the first six months; and the false belief that it was a taboo for mothers to disobey such practices in some communities.
She also advised health workers to maintain the right attitude as well as a good relationship with nursing and pregnant women in order to ensure that exclusive breastfeeding was sustained.
According to her, giving some kind of incentives, training and assistance from Community Support Group and involvement of husbands from the antenatal stage through delivery will also help in sustaining exclusive breastfeeding.
She, therefore, encouraged husbands to support their wives to practice exclusive breastfeeding.
Aiyedun also called on the media to help in creating awareness on the need for nursing mothers to feed their babies exclusively for six months.
The paediatrician commended international bodies such as “Save The Children’’, “World Health Organisation (WHO) as well as local Non- Governmental Organisations (NGOs) for their support in making sure that exclusive breastfeeding was sustained in the country.
