Why men should stay away from their wife’s breasts while breastfeeding – Expert

According to an expert, having the mouth of a man as
well as that of an infant on the breasts of a nursing
mother could prove detrimental.

This is why men have been told to desist from sharing
their wives' breasts with infants as the act could lead to
injury for the mother and also expose the baby to
infection.
This piece of advice was given out by Professor Angela
Oyo Ita, the Commissioner for Health of Cross River
State, at the opening ceremony for the 2013 Breast
Feeding Week at Akpabuyo local Government Area of
the state.
Vanguard reports:
Prof. Ita stated that men sharing their wives' breasts
while they are breast feeding could inflict wound on the
breasts and if the woman is HIV positive, the child
could be exposed to the infection.
Professor Oyo Ita who was represented by the Director
Nutrition of the Ministry of Health, Mrs Regina Adie
called on the women to practice exclusive breast feeding
because it has been proven that beast milk contains 80%
water and 20% minerals that are essential for the child's
growth.
"The World Health Organisation, the United Nation
International Children Educational Fund, and other
renown world agencies have carried out studies and it
has proven that breast milk is the best in keeping the
child healthy, strong and happy".
She said myths that a child that is exclusively fed on
breast milk for six months would at some point die out
of thirst is not true because beast milk contains enough
water to keep the child happy and satisfied. "Some time
ago, we came here and had a meeting with the men and
called on them to support their wives to carry out
exclusive breast feeding for their children and the men
said no because the children would die from the thirst
for water, but that is not true".
The Health Commissioner said the theme for this year's
breast feeding week. 'Breast Feeding, Close to Mother",
was apt because the relationship between the mother
and the child becomes stronger when the mother breast
feeds the baby exclusively for six months.
"If you look at the face of your baby during breast
feeding, you would see joy and satisfaction on the face
and that brings the child closer to the mother".
Mrs Rosemary Effiong, the Chairman of Akpabuyo
Local Government Area said breast feeding keeps
children strong and free of health challenges and "We in
Akpabuyo do not want to have children who would put
unnecessary pressure on our health facilities, so let every
mother listen and obey the instruction of the focal
person on breast feeding".
Mrs Effiong who was represented by the Secretary of
Council, Mr Edem Okon said the council would
continue to offer the needed support to mothers through
financial empowerment to enable them feed well to
breast feed their children.

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