As the 22nd World Breastfeeding Week (August 1 – 7th) continues, a Swansea University academic has said that more should be done to support breastfeeding in the UK.
Dr Amy Brown, Programme Director for the MSc Child Public Health from Swansea University’s College of Human and Health Sciences says that while breastfeeding is known to protect the health of both mums and babies worldwide, breastfeeding rates in the UK are low.
She said: “Babies who are breastfed have a lower risk of gastrointestinal and respiratory illnesses, ear infections and obesity whilst mums reduce their risk of reproductive cancers, osteoporosis and heart disease. In the UK, the Department of Health recommends that babies have nothing but breast milk for the first six months of their lives, with continued breastfeeding until the first year and beyond.”
However, breastfeeding rates in the UK are low. Although around four out of five new mums now start breastfeeding, many stop within the first few days and weeks with only around one fifth breastfeeding at all by six months. The reasons for this are complicated. Some find it difficult or don’t feel confident and feel that they couldn’t get enough support. Others are wary of the negative attitude towards breastfeeding, particularly in public, that is often presented in the media. Worries about body image and embarrassment about feeding in front of others are common. Finally, the attitudes of friends and family who feel excluded and want to feed the baby can lead to mums stopping.
Dr Brown said: “Finding ways to supporting breastfeeding is important not only for the health of new mums and babies but because of the savings it can bring through reducing illnesses. Recent statistics show that if more babies were breastfed the NHS, and therefore tax payers would save millions of pounds. Many mums also report feeling guilty or upset if they cannot breastfeed and negative experiences or lack of support can exacerbate this. Breastfeeding protects babies and therefore we should be protecting and supporting new mums to breastfeed.”
