Nursing mothers in Abuja have opened up about their experiences with exclusive breastfeeding, highlighting both the satisfaction it brings and the difficulties they encounter as the world celebrates World Breastfeeding Week.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, the mothers described breastfeeding as a rewarding journey that often comes with emotional, physical and financial challenges.
A first-time mother, Amina Ibrahim, said her experience was more difficult than she expected after childbirth. She explained that her baby initially had trouble latching, leaving her frustrated and worried about her ability to breastfeed successfully.
“I thought it would happen naturally, but my baby struggled to latch during the first few days. I cried often because I felt I was failing as a mother,” she said.
Ibrahim said the support she received from healthcare workers and her husband helped her overcome the early challenges, allowing her to exclusively breastfeed her child for six months.
For Blessing Okafor, a banker and mother of a six-month-old baby, resuming work after maternity leave created new difficulties. She said the absence of breastfeeding facilities at her workplace made continuing the practice challenging.
“My office does not have a breastfeeding room, so it became a daily struggle. At times, I worried whether my baby was receiving enough breast milk,” she said.
Another mother, Hauwa Sani, who has twins, identified exhaustion and the cost of maintaining a healthy diet as major obstacles. She said caring for two babies while ensuring enough milk production required significant physical and family support.
“Breastfeeding twins was not easy. I barely get enough rest, and I need to eat properly to continue producing milk. Without my family’s help, I do not think I would have managed,” she said.
A father of two, Habib Ismail, stressed that fathers also have an important role to play in supporting breastfeeding mothers. According to him, assisting with childcare and household responsibilities can encourage mothers to continue despite challenges.
A retired nurse at General Hospital, Garki, Abuja, Safiya Sulaiman, said exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of a child’s life provides essential nutrients and helps protect infants from infections and malnutrition.
She called on families, employers and communities to create better conditions for breastfeeding mothers through improved maternity leave policies, flexible work arrangements and public awareness.
Sulaiman also encouraged mothers facing breastfeeding difficulties to seek assistance from trained health professionals rather than giving up due to temporary setbacks.
As activities marking World Breastfeeding Week continue, mothers said more practical support is needed beyond awareness campaigns to help women breastfeed successfully at home, in workplaces and within their communities.
They added that creating a supportive environment would help ensure children receive the healthiest possible start in life.