By Rita Oyiboka
In a nation where people have begun selling yams in slices and spaghetti in nylons for N100, the simplest of human acts—breastfeeding—faces an unexpected adversary: economic hardship.
As Nigerians stretch every naira, the impact on breastfeeding mothers, who are supposed to nurture the future, is both ironic and alarming.
This is a scenario all too familiar to a young mother, Blessing (not her real name), who has to resort to begging to feed her baby.
Speaking to our correspondent while asking for money for food, she showed the fresh scars on her slightly bloated belly as proof of a recent cesarean section. She explained that the procedure had drained every penny from her purse as a single mother, lamenting that without eating, her baby would starve.
Even with the little financial help she received, one can only wonder how this woman will fare with a little one whose survival depends solely on her.
“I want to breastfeed exclusively,” she says, “but some days, I don’t even have enough to eat.”
The Cost of “Breast is Best” in a Faltering Economy
The well-intentioned mantra of “breast is best” crashes into Nigeria’s harsh economic reality.Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, has been engulfed in a raging inflation inferno since 2021, leaving citizens scorched and searching for relief. The country’s inflation rate has skyrocketed from 15.75% in February 2021 to a staggering 34.2% as of June 2024, the highest in 28 years. This is an increase from 22.8% in June 2023 and 34.0% in May 2024.
This economic affliction has ravaged the country, eroding purchasing power, and stifling economic growth. The culprits behind this inflationary surge are numerous and complex. Supply chain disruptions, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, have contributed to the scarcity of essential goods, driving up prices. The Russia-Ukraine conflict has also had a devastating impact, causing global food and fuel prices to soar.
Furthermore, Nigeria’s dependence on imported goods, coupled with a depreciating naira, has made imports more expensive, fueling inflation. The government’s expansionary fiscal policies, aimed at stimulating economic growth, have inadvertently increased money supply, stoking inflationary pressures.
The impact on Nigerians is dire. Food prices have risen by over 40% since 2021, making staples like rice, beans, and maize unaffordable for many. The situation is catastrophic, with millions struggling to survive. Small businesses are also on the brink of collapse, as higher production costs and reduced consumer spending threaten their existence.
Despite the government’s assurances, the inflation crisis has only worsened. The Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) decision to raise interest rates has had little effect, as the inflation monster continues to rage on.
Breastfeeding mothers, already drained financially, are now facing physical exhaustion from inadequate nutrition, leading to a vicious cycle of decreased milk production and malnourished infants.
Government policies do little to mitigate this. While the National Policy on Infant and Young Child Feeding advocates exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, it’s a hollow promise for many.
Nigeria’s economy is a tightrope walk, and mothers are expected to perform a delicate balancing act: “Breast is best,” they’re told, but at what cost?
While the World marked World Breastfeeding Week
With inflation soaring and food prices doubling, the essentials needed to sustain both mother and child are slipping out of reach. While the law might advocate for exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, reality delivers a harsher message: empty wallets lead to empty plates, and empty plates mean empty breasts.
As World Breastfeeding Week rolled around from August 1st to 7th, it became worth noting that breastfeeding in Nigeria has become more than just a maternal duty. It’s proof of the resilience of women who, despite economic adversity, refuse to let their children go hungry—even when they are starving.
This year’s theme, Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All, seems almost ironic when the gap between economic reality and the nutritional needs of mothers grows ever wider.
Breastfeeding: An Act of Love Amidst Hunger
Breastfeeding is more than a biological function; it’s an act of love, an intimate connection forged between mother and child, one that requires no words.
Oxytocin, the so-called “love hormone,” flows freely during these moments, bonding mother and child in a way that transcends the physical. Yet, this act of love is under siege as mothers, battling hunger, struggle to produce the milk their babies so desperately need.
It’s not just the health of the baby that’s at stake. Newborns, already vulnerable, need every ounce of nutrition to counteract the weight loss they naturally experience after birth. But when mothers are malnourished, their milk production dwindles, leaving babies without the sustenance required to stave off conditions like jaundice or low blood sugar.
The Real Voices: Nigerian Mothers Speak
For mothers like Mrs. Joy Anthony, a veteran in the world of breastfeeding with five children under her belt, the journey is anything but simple. “Breastfeeding five kids for six months each and supplementing with meals for as long as sixteen months—let me tell you, it’s not always easy,” she says. “Some kids can’t latch properly, others never seem full, but overcoming these challenges is what makes motherhood so rewarding.”
Likewise, in an interview, Mrs. Florence Ojogan, a mother of three, shared her struggles with nursing a newborn amidst Nigeria’s skyrocketing food prices. She noted:
“I am nursing my 8-week-old and my god, the incredible hunger I get from nursing is untenable. I am at an unhealthy weight after my pregnancy and need to focus on reigning it in. I am famished constantly while feeding my baby. I could easily eat 4000 calories to be satiated.
“It is difficult to keep up when there are other children who also need to eat. I get these intense fits of starvation where I need to binge to satisfy myself. I have never been a binge eater before, but after exercise or long times between eating, I feel like I need 500 calories at once just to keep my blood sugar up.
“The nation is hard where one cup of beans is N400 and a bag of rice is nearly N100,000, how can one keep up? It is difficult being a nursing mother in Nigeria.”
Mrs. Ojogan’s words paint a stark picture of the challenges faced by nursing mothers in Nigeria, where economic hardship and food insecurity exacerbate the already demanding task of caring for a newborn.
Yet, in a world where modern women fear sagging breasts more than the loss of this connection, the traditional wisdom that breastfeeding brings more benefits than drawbacks seems to be fading.
Mrs. LovethUche, mother of one, shares a different perspective. While she cherishes the bond breastfeeding creates, she rejects the notion that exclusive breastfeeding is the only path. “There’s a false belief that if you supplement with formula, you’re a bad mother. But as a self-employed woman, I have to make practical choices. Sometimes, combining breastfeeding with formula is the best option,” she explains.
However, this is a luxury that many cannot afford, especially the over 100 million Nigerians living below the poverty line.
Breast Milk: The Health Professional’s Perspective
Breast milk has long been touted as the ultimate food for infants, a perfectly balanced concoction of nutrients, antibodies, and enzymes designed to meet a baby’s evolving needs.
A pediatric specialist at Ahmadu Bello Teaching HospitalDr. Malik Oduoye, underscores this in an interview. “Breast milk, especially colostrum, is packed with everything a newborn needs—proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. It’s also loaded with immune-boosting properties that protect against infections, allergies, and chronic diseases,” he says.
For mothers, the benefits are equally compelling. “Breastfeeding aids postpartum recovery by triggering uterine contractions that reduce bleeding, and it even acts as a natural contraceptive,”.Oduoye explains.
But the challenges are real: “Many mothers struggle with latching, soreness, or inadequate milk supply. These issues, compounded by poor nutrition, make breastfeeding a daunting task.”
To better understand the implications of this issue, The Pointer spoke with Dr. Charles Umeh, a renowned public health expert and nutritionist. Dr. Umeh has seen firsthand the impact of poor maternal nutrition on breastfeeding outcomes. “Breast milk is nature’s perfect food, but it doesn’t come out of thin air,” Dr. Umeh explains. “The quality of breast milk is directly linked to what the mother eats. When mothers can’t afford a balanced diet, their milk may lack essential nutrients like iron, iodine, and vitamin A, which are critical for the baby’s growth and development.” He adds, “In Nigeria, the rising cost of food is creating a public health challenge. We’re seeing more cases of malnutrition in breastfeeding mothers, which in turn affects their babies. It’s a vicious cycle that needs to be addressed urgently.” Economic hardship has forced many families to make tough decisions about what to eat. Cheaper, less nutritious foods are often chosen over healthier options because they are more affordable. But this short-term solution has long-term consequences.
“Processed foods high in carbohydrates and low in essential nutrients are filling the gap,” Dr. Umeh notes. “These foods might keep a mother full, but they don’t provide the nutrients needed to produce high-quality breast milk. This not only affects the baby’s health but also the mother’s well-being.”
The Way Forward
The ripple effect is alarming. Malnourished mothers are more likely to experience fatigue, weakened immunity, and complications that can interfere with their ability to breastfeed effectively. Their babies, in turn, may suffer from stunted growth, developmental delays, and a higher risk of infections.
Adding to the struggle is the pervasive misinformation and cultural practices that discourage exclusive breastfeeding. Myths about breast milk insufficiency or the necessity of water supplements during infancy persist, further complicating efforts to promote optimal breastfeeding practices.
Even as the curtain is drawn on World Breastfeeding Week, it’s time to shift the focus from merely promoting breastfeeding to creating an environment where it’s genuinely possible. Policies that ensure nutritional assistance are not just nice to have—they’re essential.
In a country where the economic storm shows no sign of abating, the resolve of Nigerian mothers to continue breastfeeding is nothing short of heroic, however, the future of Nigeria depends on how we nourish our mothers and children today, and the price of neglect is too high to ignore.
