When functionality meets the fashion style of mothers, babies are happy

It was at the 2024 African Vaccination Week Commemoration with many nursing mothers. They had babies of different ages and were interested in vaccinating their children. Some women were observed giving their infants sporadic breastfeeds. They had different dresses, from dresses, shirts, and pants to blouses.

Certainly, transitioning from your everyday style to one that ensures ease of breastfeeding even around people is important. The days of feeling embarrassed to nurse in public are long gone, as discreet nursing can now be accomplished with the correct attire.

But despite breastfeeding being beneficial for mothers and children, it comes with stigmas and inconveniences, particularly when choosing the right clothes.

That was obvious at the Oranyan Primary Health Care Centre, where Mr. Samuel Olatunji, UNICEF’s Social Behaviour Change consultant in Oyo State, called attention to the importance of breastfeeding and requested that a nurse demonstrate how to breastfeed a child.

In his observations, a large number of the mothers were not positioning their newborns adequately at the breast or breastfeeding for a sufficient amount of time. But doing this requires that mothers have comfortable, convenient, and safe clothing, especially in public.

Unfortunately, many mothers encounter challenges in using their usual everyday clothes for breastfeeding. Nursing mothers have to raise their gowns or blouses to have access to their breasts for breastfeeding, which in turn exposes their breasts, backs, and tummies.

Exposure of female breasts during breastfeeding in public appears inappropriate and immoral to some people and even embarrassing to others. Again, for some people, seeing breasts may be a sign of lust, sex, and sensual desire.

Therefore, it is not uncommon to see young mothers in many Nigerian cities constantly covering their breasts while nursing with a handkerchief or shawl, or occasionally tying the shawl around their waist to pull their gowns to make it easier to breastfeed in public spaces like creches and workplaces, which is not ideal.

A study in Ondo said that mothers often face challenges in using the usual everyday clothes for breastfeeding occur because of their inability to understand figure type and faults in choosing suitable and flattering styles and their inability to find nursing garments that fit the desired design, among other issues.

This was their finding from talking to 360 nursing mothers who were randomly selected from nine immunisation clinic centres in Ondo City Metropolis. It was documented in the journal, International Journal of Home Economics, Hospitality, and Allied Research.

Matron at Oranyan Primary Health Care Centre in Ibadan, Mrs Adebunmi Aremu, stated that many women do not think about dressing adequately as a nursing mother, therefore most of the time the outfits that nursing mothers wear do not allow simple accessibility to breastfeeding anytime and anywhere.

“They don’t consider appropriate dressing for nursing mothers. Many of them are illiterate, stay-at-home mothers who depend on their mother-in-law for financial support.

Thus, they wouldn’t think about dressing in a way that would facilitate and ease breastfeeding, even if you told them. So, they don’t think it’s a problem,” she added.

She said that women’s improper clothing choices are related to the concerns that breastfeeding might be difficult at times.

“They may not be able to ensure good posture when breastfeeding; likewise, the child may not easily latch to the breast. A child who is not well positioned at the breast will not be able to suck as much as he wants. The child becomes tired after a while; the mother too becomes stressed because of the high frequency of having to breastfeed,” added Mrs Aremu.

The Reproductive Health Coordinator for Oyo State Primary Health Board, Mrs Funmilayo Abodunrin, declared that the choice of clothing for a nursing mother is part of the health education given during antenatal care visits in many healthcare centres, but others oftentimes don’t comply.

She asserts that nursing moms should dress in a way that makes it simple for their infant to access the breast.

Mrs Abodunrin said breastfeeding-friendly clothes, although they may vary from one culture to the next, essentially including button-up or zip-front stretchy clothing, wrap tops and dresses, and clothing with front zippers around the bust area.

In Hausa communities, “Hula” is a popular nursing garment. It is a loose-fitting, flowing gown that provides ample coverage for breastfeeding. The Igbo nursing wear is characterised by wrappers tied around the waist, paired with blouses. In Yoruba communities, nursing mothers often adorn “Iro and Buba” to provide easy access to breastfeeding.

In recent years, Nigerian mothers have embraced fashion-forward designs that prioritise both aesthetics and functionality. It reflects a cultural shift towards empowering mothers to celebrate their identities while catering to the needs of their infants.

From chic nursing dresses with discreetly incorporated breastfeeding access to trendy tops featuring hidden zippers and flaps, the options are both fashionable and practical. Also, nursing bras have evolved, offering support without compromising on style.

These garments prioritise ease of access for breastfeeding while ensuring that mothers can express their sense of style.

It’s crucial to delve into the factors that affect the breastfeeding of babies. Undoubtedly, being aware of these factors guarantees more nursing and healthy offspring in addition to empowering mothers during the breastfeeding process.

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