A Consultant Paediatrician at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Edamisan Temiye, has dismissed the belief that breast milk can become sour or contaminated inside a mother’s breast when a baby stops breastfeeding for several days. He described the belief as false, explaining that breast milk remains safe inside the breast.
The paediatrician said breast milk production operates through a natural demand-and-supply process. Frequent breastfeeding stimulates increased milk production, while reduced breastfeeding gradually signals the body to produce less milk.
He explained that the first milk produced after childbirth, known as colostrum, may be small in quantity but is sufficient for newborns and contains important nutrients and antibodies that help protect babies from infections.
Temiye also warned that abruptly stopping breastfeeding could initially cause breast fullness, engorgement and pain because the body may continue producing milk based on the previous feeding pattern. He said the discomfort generally reduces as milk production gradually adjusts to the reduced demand.
The paediatrician urged mothers to understand the natural breastfeeding process and avoid myths that could discourage them from breastfeeding or lead them to unnecessarily replace breast milk with artificial feeds.
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