First breast milk from mothers helps babies develop well, stay healthy – Expert

The Head of Primary Health Care at Quararafa Quarters, Makurdi, Mrs. Deborah Verve, has stated that the first breast milk produced by a mother, medically known as colostrum, is essential for helping babies develop properly and remain healthy.

Mrs. Verve made this known at the weekend in Makurdi while lending her voice to the World Breastfeeding Week campaign, themed “Prioritize Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems.” She noted that there has been a sustained campaign on exclusive breastfeeding and the importance of initiating breastfeeding within the first hour of delivery.

According to her, the practice aligns with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) advocacy that emphasizes the need for babies to consume the highly nutritious first milk, known as colostrum, which she described as “the baby’s first vaccine.”

Mrs. Verve said that promoting early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding is a routine part of the facility’s daily services.

“Anytime we have pregnant women during antenatal visits, we educate them on the importance of breastfeeding their babies from birth to six months. We continue this health education even after delivery,” she said.

“We let them know that the first milk is the best because it helps babies develop well and protects them from illnesses. Many of the mothers and pregnant women have benefited from this education and are practising it.”

When asked how they monitor compliance among lactating mothers and pregnant women, Verve said the health of the babies and the feedback they receive serve as indicators.

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“We monitor them through their responses. Many express joy and tell us how well their children are growing. We always advise them not to give babies anything other than breast milk for the first six months,” she added.

“Some mothers claim they don’t produce enough milk, but we advise them to eat well. The more they eat, the more milk the body produces. Nutrition plays a vital role.”

Supporting Verve’s remarks, the Assistant Head of the Primary Health Centre, Comfort Iorpuu, stressed that good nutrition is key to milk production.

“Eating enough food is essential,” she said. “I tell them about the six classes of food. A balanced diet—not just carbohydrates—is important. Even with the current economic situation, one can still afford nutritious options like rice and beans, eggs, fish, and vegetables. These help build the body and support breast milk production.”

In the same vein, Mrs. Felicia Ameh, a retired Assistant Director of Nursing Services at the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi, and now Matron at Foundation Hospital, Makurdi, emphasized the importance of both early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding in Benue State.

She clarified the difference between the two practices, stating: “Exclusive breastfeeding means feeding a baby only breast milk for six months—no water or formula. Initiating breastfeeding means placing the baby on the breast within one hour of delivery.”

“What UNICEF is advocating now is that even if a woman delivers through cesarean section, she should be supported to put the baby to breast within the first hour after delivery. That is what we have been doing.”

She added that the yellowish first milk that comes immediately after delivery, colostrum, is rich in nutrients and plays a vital role in building the baby’s immune system.

“It does not secrete for long, so we ensure babies are breastfed early so they benefit from it,” she explained.

A nursing mother, Dorathy Terhemen, who had delivered a baby boy via cesarean section just hours earlier, also praised the nurses for assisting her in initiating breastfeeding despite her post-surgery weakness.

Meanwhile, UNICEF continues to lead the campaign on optimal breastfeeding practices, which include early initiation within one hour of birth, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, and continued breastfeeding with complementary foods up to two years of age or beyond.

Dr. Ijeoma Onuoha-Ogwe, Communication Officer at UNICEF’s Enugu Field Office, stated this at the weekend while addressing a virtual Zonal Media Dialogue on the dissemination of key advocacy messages for the 2025 World Breastfeeding Week, organized by UNICEF Enugu in collaboration with the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State.

According to her, although 90 percent of Nigerian women have breastfed at some point, only one in three babies is breastfed within the first hour of birth, and only one in three is exclusively breastfed for the first six months.

Dr. Ijeoma noted that early initiation rates declined from 42 percent in 2018 to 36 percent in 2023, while exclusive breastfeeding rates remained stagnant at 29 percent in both years. She said many Nigerian babies are weaned too early, contrary to the UNICEF and WHO recommendation to continue breastfeeding for at least 24 months.

She emphasized that while healthcare workers play a vital role in supporting breastfeeding, many lack the tools, training, and time needed to provide adequate care.

According to her, 26 out of 36 states in Nigeria have yet to create enabling environments, including paid maternity leave, breastfeeding breaks, and workplace facilities, which are crucial for sustaining breastfeeding. Most workplaces—formal and informal—lack policies that support effective breastfeeding.

Dr. Ijeoma concluded by calling for sustainable support systems to help mothers breastfeed successfully at home, at work, and in the community. She urged government and employers to invest in coordinated breastfeeding support programmes, workplace policies, and community networks essential to ensure no mother is left behind.