Nursing mothers are advised to avoid giving their babies to relatives or friends to breastfeed whenever they are not around or sick.
Rev. Sr. Eunice Okobia of Medical Missionaries of Mary Clinic, ACO Housing Estate, Abuja, gave the advice while addressing mothers during an immunisation programme.
Okobia said that nursing mothers who allowed such, put such children at the risk of being infected.
And that it was safer to use a bottle of the mother’s breast milk or infant formula to feed babies whose mothers were not available to feed them.
She advised: “if you feel that a relative or friend should breastfeed your baby, you should consult your paediatrician.
“Contact with breast milk and breast tissue can transmit infections, such as yeast, bacteria or viruses.
“ Before now, mothers will allow their friends or relatives to breastfeed their babies when they are away or sick.
“We all know that HIV can be transmitted through breast milk. Also disease, such as hepatitis, can also be gotten through cracked nipples.
“ Unless you know the complete medical history of the friend or relative, it would be risky to let another woman breastfeed your baby,’’ Okobia said.
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