- Health experts in Bauchi have debunked the belief that breastfeeding causes breasts to sag, explaining that breast sagging happens naturally with age and should not discourage mothers from exclusively breastfeeding their babies.
- The experts urged mothers to begin breastfeeding immediately after delivery and continue for up to two years alongside complementary feeding, while the advice sparked mixed reactions across social media.
Health experts have advised mothers not to deny their babies exclusive breastfeeding because of the belief that breastfeeding causes breasts to sag, stressing that breast sagging is a natural process that occurs with age.
The advice was given on Monday during the flag-off of the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week in Bauchi, where medical professionals emphasized the importance of exclusive breastfeeding for a child’s healthy growth and development.
Speaking at a press briefing, the Executive Chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed, dismissed the long-held misconception linking breastfeeding to sagging breasts.
“Breastfeeding is not what makes your breasts fall. Your breasts naturally fall with age whether you give it to your children or not,” Mohammed said.
He warned that denying babies exclusive breastfeeding could expose them to malnutrition and other preventable childhood illnesses.
Also speaking, UNICEF Bauchi Field Office Chief, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, described breastfeeding as a proven life-saving practice. She explained that this year’s theme, “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works,” highlights the need to strengthen interventions that improve child nutrition.
Rafique encouraged mothers to begin breastfeeding immediately after birth, avoid giving newborns water, honey or local drinks, and continue breastfeeding alongside complementary feeding for up to two years. She added that families, employers and governments all have a role to play in supporting nursing mothers.
Reactions
@Ibidapo Femi: “So all the 18 to 25 years old girls wey never born at all and their breast don fall finish na old age cause that one too abi😩😂 okay now”
@Joy Series: “Even after exclusive breastfeeding, my own still stand. I think it’s nature or the way we make use of Bra.”
@Dialect Academy by Emamoke: “I have been educating people around me for years now because research and studying of people taught me this and some of them were very skeptical 🧐🤨 to this truth (whether you breastfed a child or not, breast must sag).”
@Bari Aala: “So what now makes breast to fall? Because this our generation 18 years old breast dey look ground straight 😂😂😂”
@Shimnai James: “His lieing I gave birth at 22my breast nearly touch my neck after several months of breastfeeding it started going down and my elder sisters own is still close to her neck”
@Golden Success: “Scientists and wahala, today it’s not the cause, next year a new studies has shown its the cause. Make una rest”
@Nurudeen Olawale: “Please what is the cause of having sleepers breast jare. I want learn new thing!!?”
@Ochanya Adah: “When e reach topic like this viam,u go see broke and jobless men for comment section they type anyhow 😂😂😂 When e reach where to make money their knowledge go sink😂😂 After una type finish make una go drink the remaining garri wey dey sleep hungry”
@Wikke Dest: “I just realized one thing about life Buh i won’t tell anybody make everybody go realize their own too 😒😒”
@Sulaimon Yusuf: “Some lessons no need teacher… life go teach everybody. 😒😂”
