Does Breastfeeding Make them Boobs Sag? Health Practitioner, Olubunmi Aiyedun Answers this Question

The common fear mothers nurse about breastfeeding is the aftermath of leaving their boobs facing south, a possible reason why some new mums avoid breastfeeding their babies exclusively. Mrs Olubunmi Aiyedun, the President of the National Association of Nigeria Paediatric Nurses says exclusive breastfeeding does not flatten nor make a woman’s breast sag.

According to Aiyedun, whether or not a woman exclusively breastfeeds her child, the breasts will still sag as she ages. This means even if a woman deprives her child of exclusive breastfeeding or not, the breast will sag at its own time.

She stressed the need for every nursing mother to exclusively breastfeed their children, noting that it helps to reduce the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer.

Aiyedun advised nursing mothers to wear good bras when breasting in order to help support the breasts. Speaking on breast milk, she 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 ideal food for the baby as well as saves money for the family and the community,” she said.

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 among others as 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. However Aiyedun encouraged husbands to support their wives to practice exclusive breastfeeding.

The health practitioner frowned at some cultural practices which entailed the mother giving new born water in the first six months from the stream or goddess and 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 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.

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.

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. She made this known when she featured at a forum of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.

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