Exclusive breast feeding among working mothers

Speaking to some mothers at the FCT breastfeeding week sometime ago, they shared their challenges as to why they find it difficult to achieve the six months of exclusive breastfeeding. Mrs. Zipporah Darius shares her experience. “The office where I work does not have provision for a crèche, so, as soon as I resume, I […]

Speaking to some mothers at the FCT breastfeeding week sometime ago, they shared their challenges as to why they find it difficult to achieve the six months of exclusive breastfeeding.

Mrs. Zipporah Darius shares her experience. “The office where I work does not have provision for a crèche, so, as soon as I resume, I cannot continue exclusive breast feeding so I introduces the baby to milk formula. We suggest that women be given six months of maternity leave as, that is the only way the six-month exclusive breastfeeding can be realistic.”

Mrs. Rebecca Ishaya. a nurse at the Gwarinpa General Hospital stated reasons why many mothers find it difficult to breastfeed their children as is advised.

“The challenge to breast feeding is that most mothers are working and for most of them, their offices do  not have provision for a crèche where they can breastfeed their child regularly. So, they are forced to stop exclusive breast feeding once it is time to resume work.

“Other challenges could be related to HIV infection. Even though we tell some of them to breast feed, some are afraid they could get their child infected,” Mrs Ishaya says.

She  made this appeal to the government and other employers of labour. “My appeal will go to employers to provide a crèche were mothers can keep their babies and from time to time go there and breast feed them. If a mother knows she has such a place, she will be psychologically prepared and more dedicated to do her work.”

A consultant at the International Board of Certified Lactations Mrs. Stella Abiodun threw more light on reasons why some women find it difficult to breastfeed. “After delivery, some mothers come up with complaints that their breasts lack milk. We take a look at why some women have such cases. We look at the anatomy as well as hormonal factor in the women which will contribute to her inability to breast feed. So, also the physical factor. Some have inverted nipples, so we look at it from the mother’s angle as well as the foetal side.”

Furthermore, she says the commonest factor that makes women unable to breast feed their children properly is the inappropriate positioning and latching. “If we notice this, we teach them how to position the baby properly. Even when a mother has had Caesarean Section (CS), she can position her baby in such a way that she will not feel pains. I met a woman who complained she could not give her childbreast milk after three days of delivery. I counselled her to put the baby to breast as in the process the child will suckle,” Abiodun says.

Women who have been adhering to the six months of exclusive breast feeding shared their experiences. “My baby has been doing fine since I have been breast feeding him. There is no sickness. I hope to breast feed him for two years. I am a trader and I go everywhere with the baby.  I usually eat beans, rice, and fruits and foods that will help me have more breast milk,” Maryam says.

Mrs. Nkechi Akachukwu whose baby was the FCT baby of the year says she does not give her baby any other food aside breast milk. “I am a student at the School of Health, Keffi. I always go there with my sister. When I’m in the class and she is crying, she comes to call me to breast feed her, then I go back for my lecture. It is not easy. The baby has never fallen sick.  I will encourage other mothers to breast feed their babies because it is good,” Akachukwu says.