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Tag: breastfeeding

  • ‘Optimal breastfeeding’ll save 820,000 children from malnutrition’

    ‘Optimal breastfeeding’ll save 820,000 children from malnutrition’

    Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Agozie Ubesie, has said that over 820,000 children’s lives could be saved every year among children under five years, if all children from 0-23 months were optimally breastfed. Presenting the 191st inaugural lecture of the university at the Enugu campus, entitled: “The burden of childhood malnutrition and the bane of a developing economy: breaking the barriers to ending a cycle,” Ubesie submitted that while the country had grappled with the cycle of undernutrition for a long time, the rising incidence of over-nutrition in the same nation was rather creating the double and triple burdens of childhood malnutrition in Nigeria.

     According to the don, ’’This is a huge threat to both child health and national socio-economic development; we must act now to address inequity and inequality that perpetuates malnutrition cycle in Nigeria, and the time is now.”

    Read Also: Nigeria losing $1.5bn of GDP to malnutrition, says FG

    Ubesie revealed that the negative impact of malnutrition starts in-utero, and may persist throughout the rest of an adult life and even spill over to subsequent generations. He noted that malnutrition is a cycle process because women who were stunted in childhood tend to have stunted children, thereby creating an intergenerational cycle of poverty and reduced human capital that was difficult to break. He explained that optimal breastfeeding included initiating breastfeeding within an hour of birth, breastfeeding exclusively for up to six months of age, and continuing to breastfeed a child up to two years of age.

    Ubesie, who hails from Achi in Enugu State, remarked that since Nigeria was struggling with childhood undernutrition, and like many developing economies in transition, facing rising incidence of over-nutrition, adequate nutrition was a cost effective intervention that holds the key to preventing a lot of communicable and non-communicable diseases which is connected to national development and growth. He maintained that as healthcare paradigm shifts from treatment to preventive, cost effective measures like appropriate breastfeeding practices, maternal and infant nutrition including adequate complementary diet, can significantly reduce both childhood morbidities and mortalities.

    He lauded the university administration for the introduction of the inaugural lecture series in 1976, saying it is a huge boost to learning and academic excellence.

  • Paediatrician recommends one year breastfeeding for babies

    Apaediatrician with Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH), Dr. Juliet Ochi, has recommended that babies should be given breast milk for one year for healthy living.

    She spoke yesterday in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu.

    The paediatrician said it was necessary for mothers to feed babies with breast milk for one year because of its natural health benefits.

    According to her, breast milk provides ideal nutrition for babies, because it has everything that babies need to grow, such as vitamins, protein and fat.

    “It also contains antibodies that help babies to fight viruses and bacteria as well as lower the risk of having allergies, ear infections and diarrhoea.

    “Breast milk contains antibodies, which reduce illness in babies, thereby reducing visits to hospitals, as they make babies healthy,” she said.

    Ochi said breast milk played an integral role in strengthening the emotional attachment between a mother and her baby.

    “Breastfeeding is naturally designed to ensure maternal-infant interaction and closeness, because nursing mothers are closer to their babies more than bottle-feeding mothers.

    “Mothers, who frequently breastfeed their children without restrictions, quickly learn to read and understand their babies’ cues,” she said.

  • Breastfeeding for six months halves diabetes risk in women

    Breastfeeding for six months halves diabetes risk in women

    Breastfeeding for six months or longer appears to significantly cut the risk of a woman developing type II diabetes, a 30-year U.S. study said.

    The Kaiser Permanente research, published in the U.S. journal JAMA Internal Medicine, analysed data from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, a national, multi-centre investigation that originally enrolled about 5,000 adults aged 18 to 30 in 1985 to 1986.

    This study included 1,238 black and white women who did not have diabetes when they enrolled in CARDIA, or prior to their subsequent pregnancies.

    Over the next 30 years, each woman had at least one live birth and was routinely screened for diabetes under the CARDIA protocol.

    Participants also reported lifestyle behaviors such as diet and physical activity and the total amount of time they breastfed their children.

    It showed that women who breastfed for six months or more across all births had a 47 per cent reduction in their risk of developing type II diabetes compared to those who did not breastfeed at all.

    Women who breastfed for six months or less had a 25 per cent reduction in diabetes risk.

    “We found a very strong association between breastfeeding duration and lower risk of developing diabetes, even after accounting for all possible confounding risk factors,” said lead author Erica Gunderson, senior research scientist with the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research.

    The new findings added to a growing body of evidence that breastfeeding has protective effects for both mothers and their offspring, including lowering a mother’s risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

    Previous research identifying an association between breastfeeding and protection against later diabetes was conducted in older women using self-reported diabetes.

    Several plausible biological mechanisms are possible for the protective effects of breastfeeding, including the influence of lactation-associated hormones on the pancreatic cells that control blood insulin levels and thereby impact blood sugar.

    Tracy Flanagan, director of women’s health for Kaiser Permanente Northern California said: “we have known for a long time that breastfeeding has many benefits both for mothers and babies.

    “However, previous evidence showed only weak effects on chronic disease in women.

    “Now we see much stronger protection from this new study showing that mothers who breastfeed for months after their delivery, may be reducing their risk of developing type II diabetes by up to one half as they get older.

    “This is yet another reason that doctors, nurses, and hospitals as well as policymakers should support women and their families to breastfeed as long as possible.”

  • ONAYIGA OLAITAN :Wearing non-cotton bras can be unsafe

    ONAYIGA OLAITAN :Wearing non-cotton bras can be unsafe

    Chest sagging is a natural process that happens to women; it can be as a result of age or inability of the mother to sit properly during breastfeeding whereby the breasts lose their suppleness and elasticity. Medical Director, Lagos-based Queen of Mercy Medical Centre, Dr Onayiga Olaitan, talks about this and a lot more with Omolara Akintoye

    Can breastfeeding make the breasts droop like women actually say?

    There is a way a woman should breastfeed her baby. If you go through the normal position for breastfeeding, there is the likelihood that the breasts might not sag. However, in a majority of women, breastfeeding makes the chest sag. This is because during the process of lactation, the breasts would have enlarged with a lot of milk collection in it. Eventually, after about a year when you have weaned your baby and the chest has to go back to its original size, there is the tendency that it is going to sag because of the space the milk had occupied before. But for some women, the sagging is more likely to happen if they don’t sit properly during breastfeeding, in a way that the child does not have to stretch the chest to feed.

    Is there a possibility of the breasts returning back to shape after breastfeeding, if a woman wears certain bras consistently?

    There is a possibility but it is not to the normal size. What happens in a sagged chest is that the tissues are already loose, so, wearing some bras like the ‘packing’ bras, could actually help to reduce the looseness. As such, we can also reduce the sagging but not bring the chest back to normal totally. It is advised that while a woman is breastfeeding, she should not leave her chest without bras because during this period, the chest is loose. So, it is better you wear bras so that they help to keep the tissues in the breasts firm. But most women believe wearing a bra while still breastfeeding would weaken milk flow. That is not true. The mechanism of breastfeeding and breastmilk production has nothing to do with bras. When the child puts the mouth to suckle, there are some messages that are sent to some parts of the brain and, automatically, you have the release of hormones and the milk automatically comes out. So, the only thing that can impede chest milk’s flow is if the child is not sucking properly. But once the child is sucking properly, whether you wear tight bras or not does not matter. That will even help prevent the chest from getting unnecessarily engorged

    Can wearing bras to bed be harmful to women’s breasts or result in cancer?

    The answer to that can be a yes and a no. Based on different school of thoughts, there is a possible link but that has not been confirmed. There are some schools of thought who claim wearing a bra to bed can impede on some of the lymphatics and these are things that carry away toxins from the body; especially when the bras are tight. Having excess storage of toxins in the body could result in cancer. Although, this has not been confirmed. Some, though on the minority, also claim you can actually prevent cancer by wearing bras regularly.

    There are bras that are referred to as under wired bras and those without wires; which should women avoid?

    Most under wired bras are harmful because most of them tend to be tight. As a result of the wires in them, they can impede on your skin and cause some form of conditions, thereby preventing flow of toxins. They could also cause marks on the skin which are not so good. If you now repeatedly wear these bras and you already have discolorations on the skin coupled with the fact that the bra is not so clean, it could result in infections like mastitis, boils or redness. If these are not properly treated, it can lead to worse conditions. While most bras that have no wires tend to be a bit loose so they do not ‘pack’ the breasts like most people want, there are still a few firm ones that can do the job without constricting or preventing drainage of toxins or leaving marks on the skin. In all, bras without under-wires are better.

    How about in terms of the material with which the bra was made?

    Cotton bras are better because they allow the breasts breathe. The chest is a living organ, you know. But when you constantly use non-cotton bras, they could impair your health, result in heat rashes and promote the risk of infections.

    What’s wrong in a woman not wearing a bra at all?

    It depends on the breasts’ size. If a lady does not wear a bra regardless of whether her breasts are small, it can still sag. Wearing bras helps to give the breasts the right shape and contour and helps prevent unnecessary sagging. Ideally, a woman should wear a bra. It’s only at night you are given the room to allow your breasts breathe, or maybe when you’re indoors. But once you get the right bras that are very comfortable, you can wear them anytime.

    How best can we take care of our bras?

    First, you get the best types of bras and the right size that will fit you. That can help prevent all these problems we are talking about. Also, try to wash your bras at least every day. Most people believe they can repeat bras, but that’s wrong. Once you wear a bra, wash it, spread and allow it to dry because it is something that is going to be worn in a concealed area; under another clothing. So, it should not be wet because anything damp can promote the growth of infections. You should also try to replace them every six months.

  • Let babies enjoy breastfeeding, Commissioner tells fathers

    Let babies enjoy breastfeeding, Commissioner tells fathers

    The Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Mr Steve Ayorinde, has urged fathers not to compete for space with their babies during the period of breastfeeding.

    Ayorinde gave the advice during a Breastfeeding Awareness Campaign organised by the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) Lagos State chapter.

    The event featured a five-kilometre Health Walk in Ikeja.

    Represented by Mrs Toro Oladapo, a former NAWOJ President and the Director, Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Information, Ayorinde urged fathers to leave the breast for the babies during the period.

    He said fathers should support the mothers to properly breastfeed new born babies, describing exclusive breastfeeding as vital during the first six months of life.

    According to him, breastfeeding should be encouraged till the baby reaches two years for healthy child development.

    Ayorinde told the female journalists to continue the advocacy for a healthy nation.

    “Nothing is natural like breast milk,” he said, noting that human milk is better for babies than animal milk.

    The commissioner emphasised the agenda-setting role of the media in promoting the right attitude toward healthy child development and urged NAWOJ not to relent in its efforts.

    “The media should help ensure mothers are breastfeeding to raise a healthy nation. You will all agree with me that children that are breastfed distinguish themselves academically,’’ he said.

    According to him, women, in the past, used breastfeeding for child-spacing and family planning, urging NAWOJ to spread the awareness.

    NAWOJ Chairperson Alhaja Sekinat Lawal, appealed to all tiers of government to implement policies that encourage breastfeeding.

    She condemned violence against women, pointing out that violence could affect the flow of milk to new-born babies.

    Lawal said the fitness walk was aimed at keeping journalists healthy.

    “We are trying to inculcate the habit of exercise in our members,’’ she said.

    Lawal said journalists were always busy people who had a tendency to forget their health, hence, the walk was organised as part of activities of the breastfeeding week.

     

  • Aisha Buhari commissions breastfeeding rooms in Kebbi

    Aisha Buhari commissions breastfeeding rooms in Kebbi

    Wife of President, Hajia Aisha Buhari, has commissioned breastfeeding rooms for working mothers in Kebbi State.

    Represented by her Special Adviser, ,Hajia Hajo Sani, the President’s wife advised other states in the country to provide enabling environment for nursing and working  mothers to breastfeed their babies enough.


    “Today’s event is an indication of our commitment in advancing breastfeeding at all levels. The benefits of breastfeeding are enormous. These include providing babies with the essential nutrients and antibodies that protect them from malnutrition, preventable diseases and even death.


    “This is more so if the babies are breastfed exclusively. On the other hand,the productively of the mother will be optimal utilised in the workplace,” She stated.


    She called on all employers of labour to create an enabling environment for nursing mothers to breastfeed their babies by provide them care centres and breastfeeding rooms.


    In her welcome address, Wife of Kebbi State governor, Dr. Zainab Atiku Bagudu, disclosed that the state was among States in the high rate of chronic malnutrition.


    “Sadly,in the area of nutrition, Kebbi State has not fared so well. We are high on the list of chronic malnutrition in children. We are besieged by detrimental cultural beliefs and practices, poor education and week financial independence that contribute to the poor state of nutrition in children.


    ” The Get Involved Under Your Future Assured programme sought to address this. Thus, I would like to request that you include SBD champion a nationwide scheme for similar breastfeeding rooms in working places, ” Bagudu said.

  • Breastfeeding: Nutritionist advocates six months maternity leave

    Breastfeeding: Nutritionist advocates six months maternity leave

    A Nutritionist, Prof. Ngozi Nnam, has advocated six months maternity leave for nursing mothers to enable them carry out exclusive breastfeeding of their babies for the period.

    Nnam, a Professor of Community and Public Health Nutrition at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday.

    She also urged the Federal Government to approve six months maternity leave for nursing mothers to exclusively breastfeed their babies before going back to work.

    The nutritionist said exclusive breastfeeding could be encouraged among the nursing mothers, especially working class mothers through “nutrition education.’’

    “Mothers should be given nutrition talk on breastfeeding, the benefits; to the child; mother; family and the nation at large through all available means.

    “The talk should be given through all available means such as antenatal visits, incidental discussions, women’s meetings in churches and mosques, town hall meetings, men’s meetings.

    “The benefits will encourage mothers to continue with exclusive breastfeeding, even if there are challenges.

    “The talk should also include how to overcome the challenges of breastfeeding.
    “It helps them to overcome challenges such as correct positioning of the baby for breastfeeding and correct attachment of the baby to the nipple.

    “It will also help them to overcome challenges for the baby to empty one nipple before sucking the other one, frequency of breastfeeding and how to improve milk production, among others,’’ Nnam said.

    She also urged that Crèche should be put in place in all offices and work places to enable working class mothers practice exclusive breastfeeding during office hours.

    The professor, however, noted that management of many work places are yet to implement the international policy on Crèche.

    The international policy says any employer that has more than 50 people should provide a crèche where a woman can always take care of the child and breastfeed him or her on demand.

    Nnam, who was the immediate past President, Nutrition Society of Nigeria said breastfeeding could help to lower the incidence of breast cancer in women.

    “This is because women who breastfeed have less exposure to estrogen which has been shown to precipitate some types of breast cancer.

    “Breastfeeding could also make breast cells more resistant to mutations that can cause cancer. These benefits could help encourage women to breastfeed,’’ she said.

    Nnam, however, said that lifestyle, including diet could precipitate cancer and called on women to eat adequate food.

    “Women can prevent cancer by eating adequate diet. It is easy to eat adequate diet.

    “All that is required is to pick at least a food item from the different food groups in adequate proportion in a meal.

    “The food groups are roots, tubers and legumes, vegetables, fruits, meat, fish, poultry, milk, fats and oil.’’

     

  • ‘Breastfeeding reduces under-five deaths’

    ‘Breastfeeding reduces under-five deaths’

    A consultant for the EU- UNICEF C4D in Kebbi State Mr Idris Nagia has urged the state authorities to create more awareness on the benefits of breastfeeding.

    Speaking to reporters in his office, Nagia said breastfeeding is directly linked to reducing the death toll of children under five.

    “With so much at stake, we need to do more to reach women with a simple, powerful message like: Breastfeeding can save your baby’s life. No other preventive intervention is more cost effective in reducing the number of children who die before reaching their fifth birthdays.”

    He urged more advocates to join the campaign and to use new and creative ways to communicate with mothers and families, saying, “Raising awareness beyond the confines of the maternity ward is critical to reach these broader audiences.”

    Speaking further, Nagia said, “Initiation of breastfeeding within 30 minutes after birth saves mothers from the risk of maternal death and exclusive breastfeeding on demand in the first six months of life without water or any other food will start every baby on a healthy path in life, providing all the nutrients the baby requires for optimum growth and development.”

    He said UNICEF has embraced the idea of using all possible means of communication to drive he breastfeeding campaign, and encourages others to do the same.

  • Support group promotes exclusive breastfeeding in IDP camps

    Support group promotes exclusive breastfeeding in IDP camps

    A few kilometres outside of the state capital of Maiduguri is Dalori Camp, the largest internally displaced persons’ camp (IDP) in the north-eastern state of Borno. Thirty thousand persons traumatised by Boko Haram are living in donated tents while trying to forget the horrible experiences that forced them to flee their homes. But there’s hope at the camp with UNICEF-supported healthcare centre, where free treatment is provided and where the UNICEF team met five-month old Ashfat and her mother Fatimah.

    Baby Ashfat is a poster child of an exclusively-breastfed baby; plump, healthy and smooth-skinned. Among other children at the centre, she stands out. “It is only breast milk that I give to her,” beamed Fatimah.

    Exclusive breastfeeding in Nigeria is still rare, with only 25 per cent of mothers following the recommendation to provide only breast milk for the first six months of life or longer. The pressure to give water to newborns in addition to breast milk is high. This creates problems because the baby’s stomach is so small that it can hardly hold 60ml of liquid. When filled with water, this leaves no room for breast milk and its life sustaining nutrients.

    Little Ashfat is thriving because of UNICEF’s innovative Volunteer Community Mobiliser (VCM) network – women from the community who volunteer to spread information on how to improve the health of mothers and their children. There are more than 50 VCMs in the Dalori camp, where Ashfat was born and still resides. The network is a legacy created through the polio-eradication initiative which helps communities to better understand polio and the vaccine which prevents it. The VCM structure is supported with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and has been scaled up since the insurgency began.

    “There are 2,500 VCMs in Borno State who provide lifesaving information about practices like breastfeeding, routine immunisation, hand washing, polio, hygiene and sanitation”, said Gerida Birukila, UNICEF’s Communication for Development Specialist who coordinates the VCM deployment in camps and host communities.

    UNICEF VCMs have also created support groups for lactating mothers and pregnant women where mothers are encouraged to breastfeed exclusively.  This is the same group that supported Fatimah, mother of Ashfat.

  • Govt urged to create enabling climate for breastfeeding

    Govt urged to create enabling climate for breastfeeding

    The three tiers of government have been urged to enact enabling  laws and create an environment  for mothers to breastfeed.

    According to the Director of Child Health Advocacy Initiative, Mrs. Lola Alonge, the  government should raise awareness, improve maternity laws, enforce crèches in the work place, designate private areas for mothers to breastfeed at work, and prevent aggressive marketing of breast milk substitutes because of the negative effects on the nation.

    Mrs Alonge, who wrote the  book, Breasfeeding made easy, said breastfeeding was one of the most cost-effective interventions for newborn health, but the support needed is not always available. There must be policies and structures in place to allow mothers breastfeed successfully.

    “Breastfeeding is not just a matter of health; it’s a matter of human capital. Breastfeeding provides short and long term economic and environmental advantages to children, women, and the society. To realise these gains, powerful political support and financial investments are needed to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding. Investing in breastfeeding is an investment in the future of the country,” she said.

    According to Mrs Alonge, “Majority of mothers say they want to breastfeed, but while 77 percent start the process, only 16 percent is still exclusively breastfeeding at six months. Lack of support is one of the biggest challenges. Organisations such as Child Health Advocacy Initiative (CHAI) and Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PHN) have taken the lead in the country to educate and inform mothers on how to breastfeed successfully through training programmes in communities, primary healthcare centres, and schools. We also engage in advocacy programmes and distribution of information materials and books on breastfeeding.

    “It is time for policy makers to step up and recognise that breastfeeding makes countries healthier and wealthier. The growth and development of societies depends on good nutrition. Recent studies show that breastfeeding provides protection against infections, prevents obesity, and improves intelligence in children. And for the nursing mothers, it gives protection against breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and improves birth spacing. Breastfeeding has also been identified as a high impact intervention to achieve the global strategy for women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health (2016-2030), which was launched alongside the Sustainable Development Goals as a roadmap for ending preventable deaths in a generation. Breastfeeding is not the sole responsibility of a woman. Society has a collective responsibility to promote breastfeeding, and to create an enabling supportive environment,” she stated.