Dr. Efena Efetie, the Chief Consultant, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the National Hospital, Abuja, has allayed fears that exclusive breastfeeding could lead to breast sag.
Efetie said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja, as the world commemorates the 2016 World Breast Feeding Week.
He said the perception was erroneous as most nursing mothers were misled by the notion, thereby denying their children the much needed exclusive breastfeeding.
According to Efetie, the main factor for floppiness of the breast is due to lack of support with a firm brassier.
He said: “The use of firm brassieres during breastfeeding and after weaning can help turn back the breast.
“After breastfeeding a child, the breast can never be the same as it was before conception.
“The firmness can, however, be maintained with proper care.”
Efetie said the dragging down feeling could be as a result of most nursing mothers’ consistent tying of wrappers around the chests, which further affects the breast’s muscles.
The gynaecologist said such practice over time weakened the ligaments and could cause the breast to sag.
He, however, said the benefits of breast milk to a child outweighed the perceived effect of breastfeeding to the breast.
He warned that such psychological belief should be discouraged in the society.
He said: “The benefits of breast milk to the babies are enormous and should be paramount to every mother.
“Babies that are well breastfed hardly fall sick; their immune systems are well built due to the nutrients in the milk.
“Breast milk contains antibodies which help to fight and protect the baby against infections.
“It also promotes quick recovery for sick babies and ensures that they do not frequent the hospitals.”
Efetie said natural milk was specially designed to cater for the needs of babies, stressing that the more the baby sucked, the more milk the breast would produce.
He urged mothers to be hygienic when nursing their children and focus on the health benefits their babies would get from breast milk.
NAN.
