Health experts have cautioned women against withholding breast milk from their babies over the misconception that breastfeeding causes breasts to sag, stressing that breast sagging is a natural part of ageing.
The warning was issued on Monday during the flag-off of the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week in Bauchi.
Speaking at a press briefing, the Executive Chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, expressed concern that some mothers deliberately avoid breastfeeding because they believe it affects their physical appearance.
According to him, denying babies breast milk—particularly exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life—puts them at greater risk of malnutrition and preventable childhood illnesses.
“Breastfeeding is not what makes your breasts fall. Your breasts naturally fall with age whether you breastfeed your children or not,” Mohammed said.
He described exclusive breastfeeding as one of the most effective interventions for protecting infants from malnutrition and common childhood diseases.
Also speaking, the Chief of UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office, Dr Nuzhat Rafique, described breastfeeding as a proven, life-saving practice and urged mothers to adopt optimal breastfeeding practices to improve child survival and healthy development.
She said the theme of this year’s World Breastfeeding Week, “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works,” underscores the need to expand evidence-based interventions that improve maternal and child nutrition.
Rafique commended the Bauchi State Government for approving six months of paid maternity leave, describing the policy as a significant step towards enabling mothers to exclusively breastfeed their babies.
She also praised the state government for approving N500 million as counterpart funding for the Child Nutrition Fund and expressed hope that the funds would be released promptly to procure critical nutrition commodities.
Despite high breastfeeding rates in the state, Rafique said optimal breastfeeding practices remain poor.
“More than nine out of every 10 mothers in Bauchi breastfeed their children, but unfortunately optimal breastfeeding practices remain low,” she said.
She disclosed that only 12 per cent of newborns in the state are breastfed within the first hour of birth, while just 26 per cent of infants are exclusively breastfed for the recommended first six months of life.
Rafique explained that newborns should be breastfed within the first hour after delivery and given colostrum—the first breast milk—which she described as a baby’s “first vaccine” because of the antibodies and immunity it provides.
“The child should receive breast milk immediately after birth without being given water, honey or any local drinks. Those practices introduce germs and expose children to diarrhoea and other infections,” she said.
According to her, poor breastfeeding practices contribute significantly to diarrhoea, respiratory infections and malnutrition, creating a cycle of illness that weakens children and increases the risk of death.
She urged mothers to exclusively breastfeed for the first six months, continue breastfeeding alongside appropriate complementary foods until a child is two years old or beyond, and maintain adequate birth spacing.
Rafique stressed that supporting breastfeeding should not rest solely on mothers, noting that fathers, families, employers and government institutions all have critical roles to play.
She added that family-friendly workplace policies, including the effective implementation of six months of paid maternity leave and the establishment of workplace crèches, would help improve breastfeeding practices and child survival outcomes.
