Sustaining the practice of breastfeeding

“She looks like a six months old baby that is why her godmother calls her Michelin, a result of the exclusive breast feeding my daughter in law is doing.But the worry at the back of her mind is that her daughter in-law, Bola is set to resume work in a couple of days, and has […]

“She looks like a six months old baby that is why her godmother calls her Michelin, a result of the exclusive breast feeding my daughter in law is doing.
But the worry at the back of her mind is that her daughter in-law, Bola is set to resume work in a couple of days, and has to leave the baby at home.
“Though my daughter in-law will express her milk for the baby before leaving the house, it’s not the same like she is feeding the baby herself, but she has to work and there is no creche at her place of employment”.
This is the worry of many working class mothers who are faced with the challenges of leaving their babes at home after the first two months of birth to return to duty as stipulated in some private organisation.
In some government establishment, women are lucky to have three months.
The idea of exclusive breastfeeding and its benefits
World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from August 1st to 7th to encourage mothers breast feed their babies exclusively for at least six months.
This year’s theme, “breast feeding support; close to mothers” is aimed at emphasizing the benefits of sustaining the practice while boosting support for mothers who breast feed.
In a message to commemorate the weeklong celebration, UNICEF noted that despite breastfeeding  being the most effective and inexpensive way of saving a child’s life, less than half of all children under six months benefit from exclusive breastfeeding.
UNICEF also observed that strong leadership in promoting the practice is essential but lacking in most countries.
“There is no other single health intervention that has such a high impact for babies and mothers as breastfeeding and which costs so little for governments,” said UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Geeta Rao Gupta”.
“Breastfeeding is a baby’s ‘first immunization’ and the most effective and inexpensive life-saver ever.”
Children who are exclusively breastfed are 14 times more likely to survive the first six months of life than non-breastfed children. Starting breastfeeding in the first day after birth can reduce the risk of new-born death by up to 45 per cent.
Breastfeeding also supports a child’s ability to learn and helps prevent obesity and chronic diseases later in life.
Mothers who breastfeed exclusively are less likely to become pregnant in the first six months following delivery, recover faster from giving birth, and return to their pre-pregnancy weight sooner.
Evidence shows that they experience less post-partum depression and also have a lower risk of ovarian and breast cancers later in life.
Unfortunate statistics of breast feeding rate
Despite these well documented benefits of breastfeeding worldwide, only 39 per cent of children aged less than six months were exclusively breastfed in 2012.
This global figure has improved very little for the past several decades, due in part to large countries where the breastfeeding rate is low, and to the general lack of a supportive environment for breastfeeding mothers.
Nigeria has made no improvement over many years; and some of the lowest rates in the world are in Somalia, Chad and South Africa.
Available statistics from the National Demographic Health Survey indicate only 13 in 100 mothers breastfeed their babies exclusively for the first few months of life.
It also suggests that four out of five babies are not exclusively breastfed within the first hour of life.
A decline in numbers from 17% to 13% in 2008, prompted health authorities to set targets to increase rates of exclusive breastfeeding among women to at least 50% by 2015 through community support groups for women, and in turn increase child nutrition.
Health Minister Onyebuchi Chukwu said an “underlying factor for the more than 50% mortality among children less than five years is associated with malnutrition,” which lowers children’s immunity and leaves them vulnerable to pneumonia, diarrhoea and malaria.
In comments to commemorate World Breastfeeding Week delivered by Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health, Sani Bala, Chukwu said, “Malnutrition in early stages, particularly in the first 1,000 days predisposes a child to a condition that causes irreversible physical and cognitive damage.”
The charity Save the Children insists breastfeeding has “potential to have real impact in economic and social development in Nigeria.”
“Breastfeeding within 30 minutes of life and up to six months is one of the most powerful weapons to fight malnutrition,” said Susan Grant, country director for Save the Children.
The charity urged increased support for mothers to breastfeed their babies-including providing crèches and longer maternity leave-and to combat misconceptions about breastfeeding.
Drumming support for breastfeeding
Countries with supportive policies and comprehensive programmes that reach all communities have been able to increase their breastfeeding rates significantly.
Rosemary Okereafor a nurse who works with the Nigerian Prison Service Suleja,  said that the decline in the rate of mothers breast feeding is due to lack of support from various groups directly related to the women.
Speaking at an annual event organised by the Nursing and Midwifery Council, Okereafor noted that some critical groups are necessary to encourage mothers keep up the practice which is breastfeeding for at least six months to ensure the survival and adequate development of the baby.
Her words, “The first group is the traditional group which comprises of her family, especially her husband, then closely linked is the health worker, the community leaders, friends who are mothers and the peer counselling programme.”
Emphasizing on the importance of the peer counselling programme, the Nurse said, “The peer counselling program is a cost effective and highly productive way to reach a larger number of mothers more frequently.
“The trained peer counsellor available in the community becomes the lifeline for members with breast feeding questions and issues.”
According to her, one of the objectives of this year’s Breast Feeding Week is to encourage groups especially peer group to support mothers sustain the practice for at least six months.
The circle of support for mothers
UNICEF noted that although breastfeeding is natural and may seem instinctive, it is essential to create an enabling environment for it to become the norm.
Mothers benefit from the help of skilled health providers and community workers to support them to breastfeed, as well as culturally-sensitive communication, and protective laws and policies, particularly around the marketing of breast milk substitutes and maternity leave.
Okereafor pointed out that the five circles of support should be implemented because they are the vital foundation for mothers to breast feed their babies more.
Numerating the circle, she said, “The family and social network comprising of the husbands and the family, groups the mother associate with, like her social class, religious group and her neighbourhood.
“Another is the healthcare system, the work place because most employment places do not have creche, the bosses frown at mothers bringing babies to work and unfortunately working hours are too long.”
Government policies do not accommodate the six months required to exclusively breast feed their babies, even as there are no legislation to reduce aggressive marketing of breast milk substitutes (formula) by the manufacturers.
Male involvement in breast feeding
Mrs Onwe Charity, the Deputy Director Nursing and Midwifery Council, said that male encouragement and involvement is very crucial in supporting women breast feed.
Her words, “Some women can face challenges of not being able to produce milk (lactate) when they give birth, the husband before her delivery date can help her suck the nipples so as to bring them out.”
“He can help his wife massage the breast, and even clean it with Vaseline and suck it, this practice will help reduce the pain she will experience from breast feeding, especially as it relates to cracked nipples.”
The Coordinator Baby Friendly Initiative, Mercy Nnadi pointed out that the benefit of breast feeding is enormous, quite effective and cheap.
Nnadi said, “Women who breast feed their babies can attest to the health advantages it brings to the family, every mother should be proud to breast feed her baby, and the society should support her.”