Health Experts Dispel Myth: Breastfeeding Not Cause of Sagging Breasts

In a bid to promote exclusive breastfeeding, health experts in Bauchi have debunked the common misconception that breastfeeding leads to breast sagging. According to these experts, breast sagging is a natural process that occurs with age, regardless of whether a woman breastfeeds or not. This clarification was made during the launch of the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week in Bauchi. Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, the Executive Chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Board, expressed concern over the number of mothers who deny their babies breast milk due to the fear of breast sagging. He emphasized that denying children breast milk exposes them to malnutrition and other childhood illnesses. Mohammed stated, 'Breastfeeding is not what makes your breasts fall. Your breasts naturally fall with age whether you give it to your children or not.' He also noted that exclusive breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to protect children from malnutrition and preventable diseases. Dr Nuzhat Rafique, the Chief of the UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, described breastfeeding as a proven, life-saving practice. She urged mothers to adopt optimal breastfeeding practices to ensure the healthy growth and survival of their children. This year's World Breastfeeding Week theme, 'Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works,' highlights the need to build on proven interventions that improve child nutrition. Rafique commended the Bauchi State Government for approving six months of paid maternity leave, which will enable mothers to exclusively breastfeed their babies. She also praised the state government for allocating N500m as counterpart funding for the Child Nutrition Fund. According to Rafique, although most mothers in Bauchi breastfeed their children, optimal breastfeeding practices are low. She disclosed that only 12 per cent of newborns in Bauchi are breastfed within the first hour of birth, while only 26 per cent of infants are exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life. Rafique emphasized the importance of breastfeeding babies within the first hour after birth and giving them colostrum, which provides immunity. She urged mothers to exclusively breastfeed their babies for the first six months, continue breastfeeding alongside complementary feeding for two years, and maintain adequate birth spacing. Rafique stressed that breastfeeding should not be left to mothers alone, as fathers, families, employers, and government institutions all have roles to play in supporting nursing mothers.