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

The mothers in an interview as the Bauchi government, international partners and stakeholders create awareness on exclusive breastfeeding, to mark the 2024 annual World Breastfeeding Week.

They said 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.

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 atleast six months exclusively, may not continue due to the present economic hardship. I breastfed by other two 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 atleast two to three times per day so that she can have enough milk for the baby and energy for herself.”

She said mothers felt hungrier and thirstier while breastfeeding.

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

Jamila Usman, a new mother, said things had been difficult that she and her family could not afford daily meals.

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

Another first time mother, Asabe Umar, said during 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.

Ms Umar said, ”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?”

However, Talatu Mahmoud, a new mother, said, “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, bitterleaf,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 mothersm.”

Abdurrazak Shehu, officer incharge of the federal low-cost primary health centre, said during antenatal, postnatal and immunisation days, women were educated on nutrition to improve their households diet using simple gardening techniques.

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

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

(NAN)