Nursing mothers have reported that experiencing hunger and struggling to meet their daily dietary requirements have hindered their ability to exclusively breastfeed their infants under six months old.
They have mentioned turning to supplementing their breast milk by offering their babies water and locally made foods like pap. Their concern is that breastfeeding while hungry may impact their health, decrease the amount of breast milk produced, and leave their infants unsatisfied.
While some maternal and nutrition experts have clarified that hunger can affect the quality of breast milk, they have reassured that it does not necessarily affect the quantity of milk produced. They have stressed the importance of proper latch-on techniques by babies to ensure sufficient milk production, even if mothers are unable to afford a fully balanced diet due to increasing food prices.
These experts have encouraged lactating mothers to prioritize exclusive breastfeeding as it is not only cost-effective but also healthier compared to alternative feeding methods. In support of this, the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund have called for global efforts to improve breastfeeding rates, emphasizing the importance of equal access to breastfeeding support.
During World Breastfeeding Week celebrated annually from August 1st to 7th, the theme “Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All” aims to raise awareness and advocate for the advantages of breastfeeding. It has been noted in an article by World Vision International that challenges such as stress, hunger, and disruptions in routines can make breastfeeding more difficult.
The article also mentions that stress can impact milk flow, leading to fussy infants that may mistakenly be perceived as not getting enough milk. Furthermore, a study in Kenya revealed that maternal hunger contributed to mothers feeling their milk supply was insufficient, which in turn affected their confidence in breastfeeding.
One example highlighted the case of a lactating mother, Mrs. Anu Olatunde, who desired to exclusively breastfeed her four-month-old son but was hindered by her own hunger.
“It is not at this time that I can do exclusive breastfeeding. I have added water and pap mixed with milk because I don’t eat well,” she said.
Another lactating mother with a four-month-old daughter, Mrs Afolabi, noted, “I don’t exclusively breastfeed my baby since I no longer eat well myself. I have started giving her water, pap, milk, and sometimes custard, and she accepts them.”
A nursery school teacher, Mrs Abiola Adebayo, understands that her four-month-old should be exclusively breastfed, but the economic situation prevented her from doing so.
“My four-month-old is only supposed to take breast milk but now I give him water and pap without sugar. I also prepare semovita and ewedu for him. I don’t eat well so the breast milk won’t be enough for him,” she mentioned.
Meanwhile, the Director of Family Health and Nutrition, Dr Folashade Oludara, emphasised that lactating mothers require support from religious, community, and family members to achieve exclusive breastfeeding.
“During pregnancy, you need an extra meal per day to ensure you don’t have anaemia. And when you have your baby, you need two extra meals per day in addition to what you were used to before so you can bring good quality breast milk out for the baby,” Oludara noted.
Professor Abubakar Panti, an Obstetrics and Gynaecology expert, dismissed the idea that hunger affects exclusive breastfeeding, explaining that breast milk production isn’t limited by food quantity, but rather the quality of a mother’s diet influences the quality of her milk.
“Hunger would not affect the breast milk volume but rather it would affect the quality. Fatty acids and water-soluble vitamins like vitamins A, B, C B6, and B12 can be reduced in breast milk if the mother does not take diets containing those vitamins. Even if the mother is hungry, the baby will still get enough milk from the mother but the mother’s health will be affected,” the gynaecologist said.
Professors Abubakar Panti and Beatrice Ogunba emphasized that a mother’s diet doesn’t impact breast milk production, except in severe cases of malnutrition or Vitamin B6 deficiency, which can affect the child.
They advised breastfeeding mothers to stay hydrated and noted that malnutrition effects may appear in infants after six months if supplementary meals are lacking.
They also recommended exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months.
“So I think the problem is information and like the World Breastfeeding Week, we should close the gap when it comes to breastfeeding information. We should give the mother the right information and what affects frequency is just the number of times that you breastfeed the baby in a day. A lactating mother is supposed to breastfeed a minimum of eight to 12 times a day. So the more you put the baby in the breast, the more milk the body produces. But when you reduce the frequency, the production will be reduced.”
Ogunba urged mothers who could not afford expensive proteins to seek cheaper alternatives like crayfish and locust beans.
“There is an alternative to expensive foods. If milk is expensive, go for soya milk. If it is meat or fish that is expensive, go for crayfish and locust beans,” she advised.
Experts advise nursing mothers to prioritize their health for optimal milk production: eat nutritious food, stay hydrated, and ensure proper latching.
Additionally, Chief Dietitian Olufunmilola Ogunmiluyi warns that inadequate food intake can lead to decreased milk supply and energy levels in breastfeeding mothers.
“Hunger will decrease the quantity of breast milk. Breastfeeding is hard work! Your body needs more calories and nutrients to keep you and your baby nourished and healthy. Eating too few calories or too few nutrient-rich foods can negatively affect the quality of your breast milk and be detrimental to breastfeeding mothers’ health,” the Nutritionist highlighted.
She advised breastfeeding mothers to consume a balanced diet daily, including dark green and yellow vegetables, proteins, fruits, and whole grains, to support their health and milk production.
