World Breastfeeding Week, observed globally from August 1st to 7th, is not just about nourishing newborns. It’s a reminder that breastfeeding is a lifelong foundation for health and wellbeing.
This year’s theme, “Closing the Gap: Support for Breastfeeding,” shifts the focus toward building a supportive, stigma-free environment where mothers are empowered to start and continue breastfeeding on their own terms. It’s a call to action for workplaces, communities, and healthcare systems to actively remove the barriers that make breastfeeding harder than it needs to be. True support goes beyond the early days, it means recognising breastfeeding as a shared responsibility, not just a personal choice.
The benefits of breastfeeding are unmatched. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life can prevent up to 820,000 child deaths globally each year.
Breast milk is not only the ideal source of nutrition for infants, it strengthens their immune systems and significantly reduces the risk of infections and diseases like diarrhea and pneumonia. Mothers also benefit, with studies showing lower risks of breast and ovarian cancers, type 2 diabetes, and postpartum depression.
Despite these well-documented advantages, only 29 percent of Nigerian children under six months are exclusively breastfed, according to UNICEF. Behind this figure lies a complex web of barriers, systemic, cultural, and personal, that many mothers confront daily, especially when meaningful support is lacking.
A Mother’s Story: Navigating Support And Stigma
While statistics tell part of the story, the lived experiences of mothers reveal a far more complex reality.
Uju Nkeonyem, a stay-at-home mother, shared her breastfeeding journey with Health Situations. For her, producing breast milk came easily but the demands of round-the-clock care took a toll.
“Breastfeeding wasn’t hard for me because God blessed me with flowing breast milk. But waking up at night for feeds was extra work. I would be so tired from the day that all I wanted was sleep, but I didn’t have that luxury. Most nights, I barely got four hours of sleep, and it messed with my entire day.”
Uju credited her family’s support, particularly her husband, who bought her a rocking chair to make night feeds more comfortable. Still, she faced intense pressure from others.
“Older women made me drink things I didn’t want, and insisted the baby was hungry every time she cried even when I knew better,” she recalled.
“After six months, society makes you feel like a jobless mother for continuing to breastfeed. They even tell you you’re feeding your child poison. It’s so discouraging.”
Her reflections cut to the heart of the issue.
“Apart from hospital lectures, there’s very little real support for nursing mothers. I’d say only thirty percent get true encouragement these days. The only thing I’d change is for everyone to let mothers do what works for them.”
This story reflects the reality of countless mothers across Nigeria. Beyond the biological demands of breastfeeding, they must navigate cultural myths, unsolicited advice, and the pressure of balancing personal well-being with the needs of their babies.
Breastfeeding is often framed as a mother’s responsibility alone, but this perspective is deeply flawed. Mothers cannot and should not do it all by themselves. Support is essential, at home, in workplaces, and within communities.
For many women, returning to work marks the abrupt end of breastfeeding. Without breastfeeding-friendly workplaces, many mothers are forced to stop earlier than intended. WHO notes that paid maternity leave of at least eighteen weeks and access to breastfeeding breaks can significantly increase breastfeeding rates. Yet, few workplaces in Nigeria implement these policies effectively.
Communities also need to challenge harmful stereotypes. When women are shamed for breastfeeding beyond six months or pressured into practices that don’t align with their child’s needs, they are robbed of their confidence as mothers. Public campaigns must focus as much on education and empathy as they do on technical knowledge.
What Can We Do?
Normalise Conversations: Talking about breastfeeding openly helps break myths and stigma. When fathers, siblings, and extended family understand the importance of breastfeeding, they can provide better support.
Support Mothers Practically: From sharing night feeds to providing household help, small gestures can make a significant difference for nursing mothers.
Advocate for Policy Change: Push for maternity protections in workplaces, provision of lactation rooms, and government policies that promote breastfeeding as a national priority.
Create Supportive Networks: Communities can establish mother-to-mother groups or “period banks” of breastfeeding supplies and information for new mothers.
Breastfeeding is not just a maternal duty, it is a collective responsibility. We must foster environments where mothers feel empowered to nourish their babies without fear, shame, or undue hardship.
As Uju Nkeonyem’s story makes clear, closing the gap goes far beyond hospital lectures. It calls for a shift in how families, workplaces, and communities perceive and support breastfeeding. It means lifting the societal pressure that undermines mothers and allowing them the freedom to do what’s best for their children without judgment.
This World Breastfeeding Week, let’s move beyond awareness and commit to real, practical support. Because when we close the gap for breastfeeding, we’re not just protecting the health of babies we’re strengthening the well-being of mothers, families, and the society they help build.
