Mothers Express Mixed Feelings Over Exclusive Breast Feeding

Opinions are divided among nursing mothers in Enugu over exclusive breastfeeding for six months before introducing their babies to artificial milk and semi-solid foods. 

A survey conducted by newsmen on Friday, in Enugu, indicated that housewives and petty traders welcome the idea, but working nursing  mothers expressed reservations about the practice.

Mrs Nnenne Nganaba, a teacher and mother of four, said she could not breastfeed exclusively for six months because at the expiration of her three months’ maternity leave, she would have to resume work. 

“After my leave it will be difficult for me to continue breastfeeding exclusively and so l have to introduce artificial milk and semi-solid food to sustain my baby until l return from work”. 

“If government is sincere, the six months exclusive breastfeeding, they should extend that maternity leave to six months to help us to actualise the dream”.

Mrs Miriam Ekpelibe, a housewife and mother of two, said exclusive breastfeeding could be achieved in the case of self-employed mothers because they would need to be close to the children to feed them regularly. 

“I disagree with the teaching that l will not give my child water. Water, l understand helps digestion and so why should I not administer water to my child. It is impossible,’’ she said. 

Ekpelibe, however, noted that for effectiveness, nursing mothers should eat balanced diet, so as to be strong enough to feed the child. 

Mrs Ngozi Muozoba, a teacher and mother of six, said that the gains of exclusive breastfeeding could not be over emphasised because breast milk was rich in nutrients required for protection from childhood killer diseases. 

“When you spend time to breastfeed your baby, the natural bond between mother and child is strengthened”.

“The only thing is that government and owners of private establishments should provide crèches at work places to enable working mothers to fulfill their obligations to their babies,” she said.

Mercy Nweze, a retired matron, said that exclusive breastfeeding was not only beneficial to the mother and child but also to the society at large. 

According to her, children born in the 1960s and mid 1970s exhibited better behavioural patterns than those born lately, because the later were fed more with artificial milk in early months of their lives. 

She advised women of child-bearing age to embrace exclusive breastfeeding because of its benefit to the baby.

She advised government to step-up efforts at ensuring that the vision of breastfeeding week was not in vain by providing the enabling environment for mothers to see it as a worthwhile programme.