World Breastfeeding Week! Mrs Toyin Saraki Lists Steps To Successful Breastfeeding For Mothers

As part of activities to mark the World Breastfeeding Week, 2016, which commenced last week Monday in Abuja, wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Toyin Saraki, has advised nursing mothers to practice exclusive breastfeeding in the first 1,000 days of child’s live as it is crucial to their survival and as well protect the child from frequent illnesses.

According to a statement released by the Press Office of the Wife of the Senate President on Sunday, the initiatives were inaugurated in some parts of the country, including Lagos and Kwara states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, during the midwives’ Mama Care Classes, Punch gathered.

She also listed the 10 steps to successful breastfeeding for mothers, which are:

Lubricating the nipples
Frequently pulling out the nipples to promote prominence and enabling baby to latch properly;
Regular cleansing of the nipples and the areola in preparation for breastfeeding;
Mothers should initiate breastfeeding within half an hour of birth.
Wear nursing bra that is a size larger
Avoid underwire bras and wear clothes that enable you flip your bra under, not over your breast while nursing; and
Make sure the baby is well positioned at the breast; latch on correctly
Breastfeed on demand.
Change your baby’s feeding position but ensure baby finishes feeding at one breast before switching in order to empty the breast sufficiently; vary nursing positions throughout the day, at least once during each feed; position the baby so that the jaw points towards the plug;
Mothers should sit comfortably, and take the baby to the breast and not the breast to the baby to avoid back pain while breastfeeding.

In addition, she advised mothers to wash their hands properly after each of these procedures: before touching your breasts, after diaper change, using the bathroom and change bra pads frequently.

Mothers should express breast milk and preserve for not more than 8 hours in order to maintain lactation even when they are separated from their baby.