By Emanuel Tarus, DevReporter, Uasin Gishu County
Key Highlights
- Workplace demands and pressure affects exclusive breastfeeding
- Body shape is a major concern for corporate women
- There is need to involve men in breastfeeding
- Exclusive Breastfeeding beneficial to babies
For many mothers, especially corporate women in Kenya, breastfeeding is a tough balancing act between providing nutrition to their babies and meeting workplace demands and other household responsibilities.
The World Health Organization WHO, recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a child’s life.
However, for many working mothers, maintaining WHO’s recommendation remains a big challenge.
In Langas, Uasin Gishu County, mothers in formal employment like Monicah Kariuki, said that long working hours, inadequate breastfeeding breaks and lack of designated breastfeeding spaces, make it difficult to maintain regular breastfeeding routines.
When Body Image Becomes a Concern
For some women, like Margaret Nduta, the challenge is complicated by concerns about body changes after childbirth.
In an exclusive interview, Nduta, a secretary in a private company said that pressure to regain and maintain their pre-pregnancy body shape can influence how some women perceive and approach breastfeeding.
“While we are aware of the recommendation of six months exclusive breastfeeding, most of the women want to maintain their body shapes and resort not to breastfeed so that they can remain attractive,” Nduta said.
For mothers working in the informal sector like Eunice Nambafu, the challenge is the need to earn an income.
The fruit vendor depends on daily sales to provide for her family. She said that taking time away from her business to breastfeed means losing customers and income. Nambafu said that while they wish to exclusively breastfeed their babies for six months, other family demands outweigh that wish.
A fruit vendor in Uasin Gishu County. Photo/Emanuel Kipkorir Tarus.
Involvement of Men in Breastfeeding
Health experts in Uasin Gishu argue that the responsibility for successful breastfeeding should not rest with mothers alone. This contributes directly to several Sustainable Development Goals.
Pediatrician Dr. Richard Omogeni, called on men to take an active role in supporting their breastfeeding partners.
“While we urge employers to provide adequate breastfeeding breaks and private, hygienic spaces where mothers can breastfeed or express breast milk, men should also be present and support their wives,” Omogeni stated.
Why Breastfeeding Matters
Dr. Sarah Mandy, a health practitioner working with the Fountain Hospital in Eldoret, noted that breast milk has essential nutrients that support baby’s immunity and brain development, and also helps protect children from childhood infections.
“Mother’s breast milk has anti-bodies that help babies fight against infections. Breast milk is also cost effective,” she stated.
For employers, establishing private breastfeeding spaces can help mothers remain productive while also reducing the difficulties associated with doing back to work after childbirth. This is in line with section 71 of the Health Act 2017 and the Breast Milk Substitutes Act 2012.
Under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, BETA, the government of Kenya seeks to improve breastfeeding coverage from 60% to 80% by 2030 and save about KSh 2.6 billion non-exclusive breastfeeding costs.
For mothers like Kariuki, Nduta and Nambafu, the goal should not be choosing between providing for their families and giving their babies the best possible start in life.
Successful exclusive breastfeeding for six months is therefore not only a mother’s responsibility. It is a shared responsibility involving families, employers, communities and also policymakers. According to the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey, 60 percent of infants aged 0-5 were exclusively breastfed.
Related Stories
https://www.afro.who.int/countries/kenya/photo-story/kenya-gives-newborns-healthy-beginning
https://youtu.be/lxZQIgXcf7c?si=llzWFXPjC4Sa3R4C
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioHNBQQCZHM
https://youtu.be/VJ4IQnJVneQ?si=aGszq3xPy9pbE-Tb
End.
Radio Baraza 
