The Maternal and Child Resource Initiative, a maternal health advocacy group, and breastfeeding experts confirm that mothers carrying multiples can successfully practice exclusive breastfeeding.
They explained that mothers of twins can utilize different positions to nurse both babies simultaneously or nurse them one after the other.
This guidance was shared during a live Instagram session hosted on Monday evening titled “Expert Review on Exclusive Breastfeeding,” which was organized in celebration of World Breastfeeding Week.
The experts emphasized the crucial role of breastfeeding in the growth and development of infants.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) recommend that infants begin breastfeeding within the first hour after birth and continue with exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life.
According to the WHO, breastfeeding provides all the necessary energy and nutrients infants require in the early months of life and is vital for ensuring optimal growth and development, significantly enhancing survival rates.
World Breastfeeding Week, observed annually from August 1-7, aims to raise awareness and promote the importance of breastfeeding.
The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action states that WBW is celebrated in recognition of the 1990 Innocenti Declaration.
This year’s theme is “Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All.”
In line with World Breastfeeding Week, the WHO and UNICEF called for improvements in global breastfeeding rates, noting that only 48 percent of infants worldwide have been exclusively breastfed over the past 12 years.
During the live event, Professor Beatrice Ogunba, the founder of MaCRIB and an expert in Public Health Nutrition and Breastfeeding, shared her insights.
“As long as there is a demand, there will be a supply. So, once you put the baby to the breast and they latch properly, milk will constantly be produced. So, you can have as much as you can for twins and that will be sufficient to make them grow well, to grow strong and to be very healthy.
“So, twins can be exclusively breastfed. Now that there are ways you can carry them, you can feed the two of them at the same time and you can do it one after the other. So, the more the demand, the more supply you will get.”
She debunked the myth that women with smaller breasts are unable to produce sufficient milk, emphasizing that breast size has no bearing on breastfeeding success.
The expert advised mothers to stay hydrated, maintain a balanced diet, and ensure proper latching to support milk production.
Additionally, she addressed concerns about exclusive breastfeeding for mothers dealing with postpartum depression and those taking Antiretroviral medication, offering guidance on how they can overcome challenges and achieve successful breastfeeding.
“In an exceptionally difficult situation, for example, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, as long as the person is on ARV, antiretroviral drugs, she can breastfeed exclusively. But the only condition is that the mother is on ARV. You may need medical permission to do all these things.
“However, for those who are under medication, the word from the medical doctor should be followed. Some drugs seep into breast milk and if it’s something that is going to harm the child, then there may be a need for an alternative. But apart from that, as long as a lactating mother does not have any medical condition that may affect milk production or affect milk content, then she can breastfeed exclusively.”
The breastfeeding expert advised mothers to feed their babies on demand, allowing them to nurse as frequently and for as long as they want, until they are content and willing to stop.
When asked about the duration of nighttime breastfeeding, Dietitian/Nutritionist Mercy Oluwafemi offered guidance on how long a child should be breastfed at night.
“Well, as long as the child demands, just keep giving. But when the child is around, maybe a year and a half, you know, you have to stop breastfeeding after two years. Some do more than two years, but most don’t even get two years. But as far as you are trying to practice, what you are trying to say is that that will be enough for your baby to develop well. They will need breastfeeding. So even if they wake up at night and demand more, keep giving.
“A child can be three or four years old and still demand food at night. Sometimes, they are very hungry during the day and won’t even have enough to eat. Some parents are so busy that they even give their children just three times a day. They feed their children three times a day and once they go to bed, they don’t have enough food.”
She emphasized the significance of breastfeeding once again and encouraged nursing mothers to consult healthcare professionals for guidance and support with any challenges or concerns they may encounter while breastfeeding.
