Health
Pap, palm wine won’t boost breast milk, nutritionists tell mothers
By Iyanuoluwa Abiola
Nutritionists have debunked the long-held belief that nursing mothers can increase breast milk production by consuming pap and palm wine, saying there is no strong scientific evidence to support the claim.
According to the nutrition experts, while pap can provide energy and fluids as part of a breastfeeding mother’s diet, frequent and effective breastfeeding, coupled with adequate maternal nutrition, plays a more important role in maintaining breast milk supply.
The experts, however, warned that palm wine poses an additional concern because its alcohol content can pass into breast milk and expose breastfed babies to alcohol.
Speaking exclusively with PUNCH HealthWise, Asst. Director, Dietetics & Nutrition, Shoretire Michael, said pap could be included in a breastfeeding mother’s diet but should not be regarded as a galactagogue—a substance promoted to increase breast milk production.
Michael explained that pap, also known as ogi or akamu, is primarily a carbohydrate-rich food and that its nutritional value depends on how it is prepared.
He advised breastfeeding mothers to combine pap with more nutrient-dense foods such as beans, eggs, fish, groundnuts, milk, fruits and vegetables.
He, however, stressed that supporting a mother’s nutritional needs was different from directly increasing breast milk production.
“The important distinction is nutrition versus milk production. Eating enough energy and nutrients supports the mother’s health and ability to breastfeed, but eating pap does not have a demonstrated direct effect of substantially increasing breast milk production,” he explained.
Michael said there was also no convincing evidence that palm wine increased breast milk production, adding that its alcohol content made it unsuitable as a lactation aid.
He explained that alcohol passes into breast milk and could interfere with breastfeeding, particularly when consumed in substantial amounts.
The dietitian said the bigger concern was what happened when a mother believed she had low milk supply and began searching for special foods or drinks instead of addressing the possible cause.
“Milk production is strongly influenced by effective and frequent removal of milk from the breast,” he noted.
He said mothers who suspected they had insufficient milk supply should have their breastfeeding practices assessed, including how frequently the baby feeds, whether the baby is properly attached and whether the baby is effectively transferring milk.
He added that the baby’s growth and the mother’s overall nutritional status should also be considered.
Michael urged breastfeeding mothers to consume a varied and adequate diet rather than concentrate on one food or drink, noting that pap could be made more nutritious by adding eggs, beans, fish, groundnuts or milk.
The World Health Organisation recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life and advises mothers to breastfeed on demand, day and night. It also recommends support for mothers experiencing breastfeeding difficulties, including assistance with breastfeeding technique and the baby’s attachment.
The WHO notes that most babies need to breastfeed eight to 12 times in 24 hours during the first six months, while continued breastfeeding alongside complementary foods is recommended until two years of age or beyond.
In Nigeria, data from the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey/National Immunisation Coverage Survey, conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics in collaboration with UNICEF, showed that only 34.4 per cent of infants under six months were exclusively breastfed, while 23.1 per cent of newborns were put to the breast within one hour of birth.
The figures underline the importance of helping mothers establish and sustain effective breastfeeding rather than relying on foods or drinks believed to increase milk supply.
Another Assistant Director of Dietetics at the Lagos State Health Service Commission, General Hospital, Badagry, Olusola Malomo, said there was no research-based evidence establishing that pap increased breast milk production.
“There has not been any scientific or analytical research-based evidence that says that taking pap will increase breast milk supply or production. It is just a kind of belief,” he stated.
Malomo explained that pap could still form part of a breastfeeding mother’s diet because it provides energy, but consuming it should not be confused with directly stimulating milk production.
The dietician stressed the importance of frequent breastfeeding, explaining that regular suckling stimulates the breast and supports continued milk production.
“The more the baby sucks, the more breast milk production increases,” he said.
Malomo urged mothers who perceived that their breast milk was insufficient not to immediately resort to traditional foods or drinks marketed as milk boosters.
He advised them to seek professional assessment to determine whether the problem was related to breastfeeding technique, feeding frequency or another underlying issue.
On palm wine, Malomo said there was also no scientific evidence that the drink increased breast milk production.
He cautioned breastfeeding mothers against making alcohol consumption a regular practice, noting that substances consumed by the mother could reach the baby through breast milk.
He said alcohol exposure could make a breastfed baby drowsy or sedated, depending on the amount consumed.
“It can make the baby fall asleep because alcohol intake can cause drowsiness and a form of sedation. But it will not be advisable,” he warned.
Malomo stressed that palm wine should therefore not be encouraged as a means of increasing breast milk.
“It should not be a regular habit, and it should not be encouraged by either a pregnant mother or a breastfeeding mother,” he cautioned.
Another Assistant Director, Nutrition and Dietetics, Ogunmiluyi Olufunmilola, explained why some mothers might perceive that pap increases their milk supply despite the lack of evidence that it directly stimulates production.
She noted that pap is mainly a source of carbohydrate and provides readily available energy, which can be useful because breastfeeding requires considerable energy.
Ogunmiluyi added that pap is usually prepared with substantial water, while its warmth may help a mother feel relaxed and comfortable.
She explained that stress and anxiety can interfere with the milk-ejection reflex, meaning a mother may notice that milk flows more easily after eating and relaxing and interpret the experience as pap having increased her milk supply.
However, she stressed that another factor could be responsible for the perceived increase.
“Frequent removal of milk from the breast is one of the strongest physiological signals for the body to produce more milk. In other words, the breastfeeding pattern may be responsible for much of the increase rather than the pap itself,” she noted.
Ogunmiluyi said breastfeeding mothers could include pap in their diets but should improve its nutritional value by taking it with foods such as milk, soy, groundnuts or eggs.
Turning to palm wine, she warned that it should not be relied upon as a breast milk booster because it contains alcohol, which passes from the mother’s bloodstream into breast milk.
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that alcohol in breast milk closely follows the mother’s blood alcohol level and is usually highest in breast milk about 30 to 60 minutes after drinking. It also notes that alcohol can interfere with the milk-ejection reflex and that excessive alcohol consumption may reduce milk production.
Ogunmiluyi explained that infants exposed to alcohol through breast milk could experience effects such as drowsiness, reduced feeding and changes in sleep patterns, depending on the amount consumed.
She therefore advised breastfeeding mothers to focus on a varied, nutrient-dense diet rather than searching for a particular food or drink to increase milk supply.
The nutritionist recommended affordable Nigerian foods including eggs, fish, beans, groundnuts, vegetables, fruits, whole grains and other staple foods, alongside adequate fluids.
She stressed that water should remain the main drink for breastfeeding mothers, adding that they should drink according to thirst rather than forcing excessive amounts of fluid in an attempt to produce more milk.
Ogunmiluyi urged mothers who believed they had insufficient breast milk to seek professional breastfeeding support and assessment rather than relying on traditional milk boosters.
Copyright PUNCH
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: health_wise@punchng.
