By Ikenna Osuoha
A lot has been said about the role of both the baby and husband in terms of ownership of the woman’s breast, and in stimulating healthy family through breastfeeding.
While many argue that the husband owns the breast, others contend that the baby remains the rightful owner, with plethora of healthy benefits to both the nursing mother and the baby.
In the main, we shall look at the various perspectives with special focus on the gains of sucking breast by both the baby and the husband to three parties namely; mother, baby and husband.
Ordinarily, breastfeeding is the act of initiating a bilateral relationship for nutritional or emotional reasons through a mild or wild sucking.
It is therefore pertinent to note that the mother or spouse is at great advantage in terms of health and emotional benefits when the baby or husband sucks.
Evidence has shown that babies who are exclusively breastfed are healthier and smarter, with lower risk of being infected with diseases.
Dr Bessy Eziechila, a Paediatrician with the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, Abuja, argued that “breast milk is the best and only food for the baby in the first six months.”
Eziechila said that the first milk otherwise called colostrum is the highest vaccine against all manner of diseases.
“And in the first few days in the life of a child, formula isn’t able to change its constitution, but your breast milk morphs to meet your baby’s changing needs.
“Colostrum—the “premilk” that comes in after you deliver—is chock-full of antibodies to protect your newborn baby. It is also higher in protein and lower in sugar than ‘full’ milk.
“Breastmilk also protects against allergies and eczema.”
According to her, if there’s any history of allergies or eczema in the family, it may be especially beneficial to breastfeed.
Eziechila said protein in cow milk and soya milk formulas could stimulate allergic reaction, while the protein in human breast milk could easily be digested.
Dr Okai Aku, the Managing Director, Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN), who also noted the importance of breastfeeding, added that “the benefits cannot be overemphasised.”
Aku described breastfeeding as the key to ending maternal morbidity and mortality.
He said “breastfeeding also helps to reduce stomach upset, diarrhea and constipation in babies.
“It reduces the risk of viruses, gastroenteritis, ear and respiratory infections.
“The incidences of pneumonia, cold and virus infection are reduced among the breastfed
“It lowers the risk of breast and ovarian cancer, as well as other diseases. Studies show that women who breastfeed have less risk of these cancers later in life.”
However, studies have also shown that women who breastfeed or allow their husbands to suck their breasts have lower risks of all forms of cancer.
Mr Alvan Dimunah, a German-based Guidance and Counselor on Sex and Health, said breastfeeding to either the baby or the husband had been associated with decreased prevalence of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and arthritis.
He said “sucking of breast by the husband is equally good for a healthy heart. It helps to balance the cardiovascular system of a woman if it is sucked for a long period of time.
“It also increases the heart beat rate of a woman and this brings about a healthy heart. Breast sucking can be used as a means of exercise for the heart, so let him suck it,” he advised.
The Sex and Health Counselor said that sucking of breast by the husband would bring about radiant skin and face for both the spouse and husband.
“When your husband sucks your breast, it improves blood flow to the skin and face and this helps the wrinkles and facial muscles to disappear. You will have a healthier and smoother skin,” he added.
Understandably, therefore, the breast is a vehicle in stabilising health and relationship between the mother and the child, as well as wife and husband.
Essentially, it helps the wife to overcome frigidity, especially during intercourse.
According to Dimunah, Some women don’t have pleasure in intercourse and to restore her natural pleasure, much time is needed for her husband to touch and suck her breast.
He explained that like the baby’s breastfeeding, sucking of the breast by the husband helps to boost the woman’s immune system.
Dimunah added that “when breast is sucked, it stimulates the immune system, resulting in the production of antibodies which can prevent the risk of being infected by any virus.”
The Counselor, who reiterated the imperatives of breast sucking, said it would also prevent lung diseases for women.
Dimunah said there was empirical scientific argument that sucking and massaging of breasts have the potential of reducing lumps and breast cancer in women.
“It helps in melting away any fat accumulated in the breast for easy flow of hormones and this prevent breast lumps.”
Importantly, both the baby and husband have unique but similar roles in advancing the healthy living of both the mother and wife.
As the world commemorates World Breastfeeding Week, which runs from Aug. 1 to Aug. 7, it is important to continue to herald and highlight the myriad of health benefits of breastfeeding and sucking.
Mrs Beatrice Eluaka, the Executive Secretary, Civil Societies Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), emphasised the imperatives of breastfeeding, which according to her is investment in the future.
Eluaka said “breastfeeding helps the mother to lose pregnancy weight because milk production burns about 300 to 500 calories a day. Nursing mothers tend to have an easier time losing pregnancy weight in a healthy way.
“It triggers the woman’s uterus to shrink back to pre-pregnancy size.
“The oxytocin released when the baby nurses helps the uterus contract, reducing post-delivery blood loss as well as helping the uterus return to its normal size more quickly—at about six weeks postpartum.”
Hajiya Hafsatu Yusuf, the Founder, Mothers of the Earth International Foundation (MEIF), said breastfeeding reduces the risk of postpartum depression.
Yusuf explained that studies have shown that women who breastfeed report fewer instances of postpartum depression.
Dr Kemi Agbaoye of Nigeria Health Watch (NHW) also said that breastfed babies have lesser records of morbidity compared to others.
Dr Bessy Eziechila however noted that breastfeeding mothers have delayed ovulation and delayed menstruation.
“Breastfeeding causes the release of prolactin, which keeps estrogen and progesterone at a distance, thereby preventing ovulation.”
Therefore, the points so far raised in this discourse has reinforced the benefits of both breastfeeding and sucking to both the mother, baby, wife and husband.
It is pertinent to note that both the baby and father remain indispensable in the wellbeing of the mother and wife.
It is not erroneous, therefore, to state that the breast is the catalyst for the establishment of bond between the baby and mother, as well as the wife and husband.
While the mother takes delight in nursing the baby with measurable satisfaction to herself and the baby, there is also a symbiotic pleasurable satisfaction between her and the husband through the act of sucking and massaging.
Scientifically, breastfeeding and sucking by either the baby and husband ought to be sustained for healthier, peaceful, loving and united home.
Ikenna Osuoha is with the News Agency of Nigeria
