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Breast feeding |
Breast feeding Rates have remained static for a decade.
Health Professionals are aware of the social pressures, young mothers and mothers to be have, when choosing the most natural way to feed their baby by breast feeding. Improved bottle feeding formulas, partners involvement, anxieties, fears and embarrassment of breast feeding and lack of support by companies to encourage working mums to continue breast feeding once returned to work, are all aspects the mother has to encounter.
Government could take the lead in an
advertising campaign to school children, school packs,
target teenage magazines on promoting the benefits of
breast feeding and remove entrenched attitudes.
Government initiatives are encouraging Health
Professionals as part of UNICEF's Global criteria to use
a Ten Step Guide to successful breast feeding and
discourage conflicting advice.
Two weeks after the birth of their baby, 37% of women are breast feeding. |
Six weeks after the birth of their baby, 30% of women are breast feeding. |
Three months after the birth of their baby, 24% of women are breast feeding. |
These statistics show a moderate uptake on Breast feeding
initially, with infant formula taking the lead by 3/12 of
age.
National Breast Feeding Week in May will hopefully encourage an increased awareness to benefits of breast feeding, many maternity units and retailers who support the Breast feeding mother will be advertising.
Both the local midwives and Health Visitors in the area have a working relationship to ensure contented mothers and babies work with a Regional Breast Feeding support group and meet quarterly to raise awareness and improve the understanding and knowledge of Breast Feeding and associated issues. Please contact your local Maternity Unit or Health Visitor for any advice or information.
Brad Cheek 1998