Pediatrician at the Upper East Regional Hospital, Dr. Bertha Volematome Gibil has urged mothers to exclusively breastfeed their babies for the first six months of life, saying breast milk provides essential nutrients and immune protection against infections during a critical period of development.
Speaking on A1 Radio’s Equal Voices, Dr. Gibil explained that exclusive breastfeeding means giving a baby only breast milk from birth to six months, without water, porridge or any other food or drink.
“Exclusive breastfeeding means giving only mother’s milk to the baby without adding anything to it. Anything in the sense of water, porridge or anything, for the first six months of the child’s life,” she explained.
According to her, babies develop rapidly during their first six months while their immune systems are still developing and adapting to their environment.
She said breast milk contains essential nutrients, immune cells and immunoglobulins that help protect babies against infections.
“Whatever the mother is producing is essential for that particular baby,” she said.
Dr. Gibil explained that the protection babies receive through breast milk is also linked to the mother’s exposure to infections in her environment. When a mother develops immunity following exposure to an infection, she said, protective substances can be passed to the baby through breast milk.
“When the child is exposed to the breast milk, you automatically get those immunoglobulins, and it protects the child against the environment you have been born into,” she explained.
The pediatrician also cautioned mothers and families against discarding colostrum, the first breast milk produced after childbirth, because of traditional beliefs or misconceptions about its appearance.
She said although colostrum is produced in smaller quantities than later breast milk, it contains a high concentration of immunoglobulins that provide important protection to newborns.
“The first breast milk that comes, that is the colostrum, contains a lot of immunoglobulins. And its concentration is actually very healthy for the baby,” she said.
Dr. Gibil urged families to ensure newborns receive colostrum rather than throwing it away, stressing the importance of educating mothers about its benefits before and after delivery.
She also addressed the belief that babies require additional water because of Ghana’s hot weather, explaining that breast milk already provides the water and other components a baby needs during the first six months.
Introducing water or other substances during this period, she cautioned, could also expose babies to contamination.
Beyond nutrition and protection against infections, Dr. Gibil said breast milk supports the development of a baby’s gastrointestinal tract and interacts with the natural bacteria in the gut, making breastfeeding important to overall early childhood development.
She also called for stronger family support for breastfeeding mothers, saying they require adequate nutrition, hydration, rest and emotional support.
Dr. Gibil encouraged relatives to assist mothers with cooking, cleaning and other household responsibilities to give them sufficient time to breastfeed and care for their babies.
She further urged mothers experiencing breastfeeding difficulties to seek professional assistance rather than conclude that they are unable to breastfeed.
According to her, challenges involving attachment, positioning, feeding frequency and the mother’s wellbeing can often be addressed with appropriate professional support.
A1 Radio | 101.1 Mhz | Keziah Porepeya Nsoh | Bolgatanga
