Breastfeeding doesn’t cause breast to sag- says experts

Nutrition experts at the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) and Nutrition International, an NGO, say that breastfeeding does not affect the firmness of a mother’s breast.

The experts made this known during an orientation for the media on optimal breastfeeding in commemoration of the 2023 World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) on Monday in Abuja.

Dr. Temidayo Odebunmi, Head, Infant and Young Child Feeding, Nutrition Division, FMoH, while highlighting the benefits of optimal breastfeeding, dispelled the misconception that breastfeeding made the breast distort and sag.

“Breastfeeding does not make a child eat less; neither does it make the breast sag.

“You must feed the babies with patience, little by little, and with a variety of nutritional foods to make the breast milk flow adequately for the child to thrive on.’’

According to her, breastfeeding does not cause sagging; rather, certain factors such as little or no exercise, an unbalanced diet, a lack of good supports like a bra, and others contribute to the non-firmness of the breast.

“The breasts sag as a woman grows older as the firmness of a breast is affected by age and other factors, not necessarily breastfeeding.’’

Similarly, Mr. Babajide Adebisi, Deputy Director, Nutrition International, highlighted the need to adhere to optimal breastfeeding practises to ensure a child gets adequate nutrients from breast milk.

Adebisi, while also adding that breastfeeding did not make a breast sag, encouraged mothers to consume healthy food, maintain a healthy lifestyle, and ensure that the babies were exclusively fed breast milk from 0 to 6 months.

He also urged employers to create a conducive and flexible workspace for parents to breastfeed their babies properly.

Mrs. Grace Mogekwu, Chief Scientific Officer, Social Behavioural Change Communication (SBCC), FMoH, stressed the need for optimal breastfeeding practises one hour after delivery, exclusive breastfeeding for six months, continual breastfeeding, and complementary feeding for at least two years.

“We are not encouraging the use of infant formula, except on rare occasions where it is necessary due to some factors.

“And when it is introduced, it must be practised in a strict hygienic environment in a safe storage facility, ’she said.

Mogekwu said the advantages of breastfeeding include perfect nutrients, easily digested efficiency, protection against infection, cost savings, helping delay a new pregnancy, and protecting the mother’s health.

She also discouraged the use of feeding bottles, artificial teats, or pacifiers for infants and young babies, describing them as factors contributing to ill health.

On his part, Mr. Sunday Baba, Director, Public Communication and National Orientation, Federal Ministry of Information, said the training was to equip the Food and Nutrition Media Team with skills to promote nutrition in the country.

“It goes without saying that a healthy population is a profitable one, and without food and good nutrition, a healthy population is unattainable,’’ he said.

Baba, therefore, encouraged the media team to use their various platforms to encourage breastfeeding, which would address the issue of malnutrition and other health challenges affecting women and children.