Breast ALWAYS best says current advice
WOMEN are advised to feed babies only breast milk until they are six months old by the NHS, the World Health Organisation and the Royal College of Midwives.
The recommendations not to give them any formula milk or solid food have been in place since 003. Before then mothers were told to give support for breastfeeding and bottle-feeding and it’s up to them to decide how to feed their babies, so we wholeheartedly support the RCM’s new statement, which tallies with our position.’
Lauren Marks- Clee, 31, founder of the website The babies solids from about four months. The current consensus among health experts is the longer the babies are given breast milk the better.
It contains antibodies from the mother that help fight off infections, allergies and asthma. Breastfed babies are also less likely to become obese as the milk has a lower fat content than formula. The Parenting Chapter, who developed post-natal depression after struggling to breastfeed, said: ‘The change in position is a much-needed step toward parents having choice, but without as much guilt, when it comes to how they feed their babies. It will hopefully give act of breastfeeding burns between 300 and 500 calories a day for the mother. WHO experts suggest women should continue to breastfeed toddlers while giving them solid food until they are two or beyond.
Its website states ‘virtually all mothers can breastfeed’ provided they have ‘accurate information’ and support. new mothers the permission to create a Plan A and Plan B if they wish to try breastfeeding, but then need or want to revert to combination feeding or solely formula feeding.’
The RCM, which represents 47,000 midwives, said the guidelines would be circulated among midwives in hospitals and followed feedback from women who felt they lacked the right information.
Some hospitals do not allow women home after giving birth until they have shown they can breastfeed. It is not clear how the recommendations will affect their policies.
This latest move follows a decision by the royal college last August to end its campaign promoting ‘normal’ or natural childbirth.