Nursing mothers lament high cost of nourishing foods

A cross-section of lactating women in Bauchi State on Friday said that they can no longer afford a balanced diet to sustain exclusive breastfeeding due to the rising cost of foodstuff.

The mothers spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, as the Bauchi State Government, international partners and stakeholders create awareness on exclusive breastfeeding, to mark the 2024 annual World Breastfeeding Week.

They said that due to the current economic situation, they cannot increase their intake of nutrient-dense foods like meat, chicken, fish, vegetables and others which are very important for a new mother.

Mrs Nuratu Maigari, a 28-year-old mother of a three-month-old baby, said, ”I fear that this age-long tradition of breastfeeding a baby for at least six months exclusively, may not continue due to the present economic hardship.

”I breastfed two other children exclusively and that was a life-sharing experience. I cannot do that with this baby due to the present hardship.

”It is important for a new mother to eat meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, beans and vegetables at least two to three times per day so that she can have enough milk for the baby and energy for herself.”

She said that mothers feel more hungry and thirsty while breastfeeding.

Eating well, she said, does have a big effect on the amount or quality of your milk.

Mrs Jamila Usman, another new mum, said things are so difficult as she and her family cannot afford daily meals.

”I will have to start introducing water for my baby. I cannot do the exclusive breastfeeding as I was advised during my antenatal,” she said.

Another first-time mother, Asabe Umar, told NAN that during the antenatal clinic, she was told to feed her baby exclusively on breast milk for the first six months with continued breastfeeding for 12 months or longer.

”My baby is just two months. It has not been easy on my husband because he is the only one providing for us now.

”I was told that the foods I eat while breastfeeding are important for my health and my baby’s. I was told to eat meat, eggs, beans and vegetables, Where will we get money for me to eat these food for six months?”, she lamented.

However, Mrs Talatu Mahmoud, a new mother, told NAN, ”I knew I was going to have my baby in July. So, I used my empty sacks and buckets to plant vegetables to take advantage of the rainy season.

”I planted ‘Ugu’, bitter leaf, water leaf, moringa and tomatoes so that no matter how little food I get, I will simply add all my vegetables which are very important for a breastfeeding mother.”

The officer in charge of the Federal Low-Cost Primary Health Centre, Mr Abdurrazak Shehu, told NAN that during antenatal, postnatal and immunisation days, women are educated on nutrition to improve their household’s diet using simple gardening techniques.

He said that the facility recorded 31 exclusive breastfed babies in June 2024, while in July 40 babies were recorded.

He said that the figure indicated that despite the economic situation, mothers adhere to campaigns on exclusive breastfeeding.

NAN.