Sylvia Ngige Where women’s power meets real life
By Sylvia Tochukwu-Ngige | www.sylviangige.com
[Awka July, 2026]
It was 2am in Awja last night.The rain was beating zinc like drums. Light was off. And Mama Ngozi’s 3-month-old baby started coughing. Small cough. Then catarrh. Then fever.
By morning, they were at the hospital. ₦18,000 for drugs. 3 days of no sleep. All because of “small cold.”
Mama, I see you. Breastfeeding in this weather is not easy. You’re tired. Your body is still healing. And now this rain is entering everywhere.
But your baby’s immune system is like a new phone — beautiful, but needs a screen protector. And that screen protector is YOU!
So let’s sit down. Pen and jotter in hand. Let me tell you how to carry your baby through this rainy season without fear.
Why rainy season is “dangerous season” for newborns
Cold doesn’t kill. But what cold brings does:
1. Catarrh and cough – from wet weather and poor ventilation
2. Chest infection – when baby gets chilled after bath
3. Skin rashes – from damp clothes and too much powder
4. Malaria– because mosquitoes love this rain
The good news? 90% of it is preventable right from your room.
5 Things Every Nursing Mother MUST Do This Rainy Season
1. Keep Baby Warm, But Don’t “Suffocate” Them
I know. The urge to wear 4 layers is real
Rule: Dress baby in one layer more than you.
If you’re wearing singlet and a wrapper, baby wears vest and onesie, including light socks. Cotton is better than wool. It breathes. Too much heat also causes rashes. And please, cover the head and feet. That’s where cold enters first.
2. Bathing Strategy: Quick, Warm, and Dry
Don’t bath baby with cold water. Heat small water and mix. Bath baby when sun is out, not m when rain is falling. After bath: dry every fold. Neck, armpit, between toes. Then wear clothes immediately.
No “let me answer call first.” Cold enters in 30 seconds.
3. Your Breastmilk is Medicine This Season
This is where you’re most powerful, mama. Breastmilk has antibodies that fight cold and infection. Don’t skip feeds because “you’re tired.”
Drink warm water, soup, and tea. If you catch cold, baby gets it through you.
4. Fight Dampness and Mosquitoes
When rain falls, everywhere is damp with mold,cthet cause cough. So, ipen windows for 30 minutes when sun comes out. Let air enter.
Do not dry baby’s clothes inside and put them on damp. Iron them well. Use net. Every night. Even if there’s no mosquito sound. They bite quietly in rainy season.
5. Know the “Red Flag” Signs Early
Don’t wait till it is serious. Run to the clinic if you see:
*. Fast breathing or chest pulling in and out
*. Baby refuses to breastfeed for 2 feeds
*. Fever that won’t go down after paracetamol
*. Cold hands and feet with fever
Early treatment saves money, stress, and tears.
To the nursing mother who feels overwhelmed, you’re doing an amazing job. The sleepless nights, the leaking breasts, the worry at 2am… God sees you.
This rain will pass. Your baby will grow big and strong. And one day they’ll tell the story of how “Mummy kept me safe when it was raining.”
You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be present, warm, and watchful.
One last thing, mama
Before you sleep tonight: check baby’s feet. Are they warm? Check the room. Is it damp? Check yourself. Did you eat and drink water?
Small things. Big protection.
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Sylviangige Question:
Nursing mama, what is your biggest struggle with your baby this rainy season? Cold? Bathing? Mosquitoes?
Comment below. Another mama might have the solution that will save your night. We’re in this together!
Sylvia Tochukwu-Ngige Founder | https://.www.sylviangige.com | Where women’s power meets real life.
External Links
1. URL: `https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/newborns-reducing-mortality`
2. https://ncdc.gov.ng/diseases/guidelines/`
3.`https://www.unicef.org/nutrition/index_breastfeeding.html`
