Relatives stop us from exclusively breastfeeding our babies — Gombe mothers

In Gombe State, Nigeria, mothers are encountering significant pressure from relatives and community members who discourage exclusive breastfeeding for the recommended first six months. This resistance stems from deeply ingrained misconceptions about infant nutrition, with many insisting on introducing water and infant formula to newborns prematurely. Health authorities and workers are striving to counter these beliefs, advocating for breastfeeding within the first hour after birth and adherence to exclusive breastfeeding practices.

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My mother-in-law was supportive of my initial idea of exclusive breastfeeding. She insisted I must feed her grandchild with water because when she fed my husband and his siblings water, nothing happened to them. She saw no reason why I should starve her grandchild of water.

Health workers at primary healthcare centers and private facilities in Gombe metropolis are actively educating mothers, urging them to resist pressure to introduce water or other liquids during the critical exclusive breastfeeding period. They highlight that exclusive breastfeeding provides babies with all necessary nutrients and vital protection against common and often fatal childhood illnesses such as diarrhea, pneumonia, and malnutrition, which are leading causes of death among children under five in Nigeria, according to UNICEF.

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After giving the baby water, the unnecessary crying stopped, so I continued feeding her water. I then noticed that my daughter stopped demanding breast milk. She drank more water than breast milk.

Mothers like Mary Musa recount experiences where family members, particularly mothers-in-law, insist on giving water to infants based on their own past experiences raising children. Musa shared how her mother-in-law’s insistence on giving her grandchild water led to the baby demanding more water than breast milk, disrupting the exclusive breastfeeding process. This highlights the intergenerational transmission of potentially harmful practices and the challenge mothers face in upholding health recommendations.

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You can see the benefit in my child, as she is healthy. There is no unnecessary sickness. This is not my first child but my third. With the first two, I couldn’t do it. At that time, I was not enlightened.

Conversely, increased awareness is enabling some mothers to successfully practice exclusive breastfeeding. Na’ima Idris, from Sudania in Gombe, shared her positive experience with her third child after failing to exclusively breastfeed her first two. She noted a marked difference in her third child's health, experiencing fewer illnesses. Idris attributes this success to better understanding and the support of her husband, emphasizing that having the time as a full-time housewife also plays a role in her ability to dedicate herself to her family's well-being. The experiences underscore the ongoing need for community education and support systems to promote optimal infant feeding practices.

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I had an idea about exclusive breastfeeding, but now I understand it better. Even their father agrees to exclusive breastfeeding because of the impact. My first two children have been falling sick, but this one is different.