Specialists in mother and child care have warned lactating mothers, especially those on exclusive breastfeeding not to fast because doing so may cause dehydration and hypoglycemia, which can affect the child’s nutrition.
According to them, since babies depend heavily on their mothers’ breast milk for nutrition, poor lactation which may be caused by fasting can affect the optimal development of babies, especially when it is done for a prolonged period.
A Consultant Gynaecologist and Obstetricians at the Epe General Hospital, Epe, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, Dr Cynthia Okafor, advised breastfeeding mothers not to fast when breastfeeding, insisting that an exclusive breastfeeding mother may suffer hypoglycemia and dehydration while on a long fast.
She noted that starving oneself may affect lactation and the quality and quantity of the breast milk a baby gets from the mother.
“A breastfeeding mother needs food and water to boost breast milk production. Those mothers whose babies are above six months and can eat other types of food apart from breast milk can fast if they wish to but not a long fast to avoid dizziness and fatigue.
“When there is a reduction in quality and quantity of milk in women, it affects the nutrition intake of the baby. The child’s micronutrient requirement for optimal development in its first 1, 000 days to its second birthday is non-negotiable.
“Micronutrients often referred to as vitamins and minerals, are vital to healthy development, disease prevention and well-being of the babies. Being fed with better and improved nutrition during pregnancy and after childbirth would forestall the loss of intelligence quotient in a child.
