Breastfeeding ‘very rare’ in parts ofWales, claims doctor
BREASTFEEDING is “very rare” among mums in some parts of Wales, which could have longterm health implications for babies, a top doctor has warned.
Karen Thompson, consultant in public health for obesity prevention and nutrition for Public Health Wales, said she was concerned about a decline in the number of babies drinking breast milk.
Evidence shows breastfed babies are more likely to grow up a healthy weight and are less at risk of high blood pressure and heart disease as they get older.
Her concerns follow the results of a new survey by Public Health Wales which has revealed that only half (51%) of pregnant women in Wales say that they were definitely going to breastfeed their baby.
This means that almost half were definitely going to bottle feed or were unsure about their choice.
It also revealed that although almost half (49%) of those who breastfeed do so for at least four months, one in five (19%) do so for less than a month.
Karen said: “These results are important because those parents who were really positive about breastfeeding were much more likely to succeed compared to those who were uncertain. In many parts of Wales breastfeeding is very rare and bottle feeding is normal.
“Unless we can change this many babies in Wales will not get the many benefits that breastmilk brings in both short-term and longer-term health outcomes. Breast milk is all a baby needs in the first six months. And it is not just good for baby’s weight, it’s good for mums too. You can naturally burn 500 calories a day through breastfeeding. We need to understand more about why some parents are unsure about breastfeeding and help to address those concerns in a positive way.
“If parents are uncertain we would encourage them to talk to their midwife or health visitor and they will be able to put them in touch with other mums who have breastfed successfully – above all we would say just give it a go, you may find it is easier than you think.”
Mum Alice Wilkins, from Cardiff, said she breastfed her son Eli, two, until he was 14 months old.
She said: “At first getting the latch right was frustrating. “My top tip would be build a nest. Take the best seat on the sofa, surround yourself with everything you could need – TV controls, a cup of tea, a book, I even had a foot rest and a nice V pillow to nestle Eli onto. You’ll be there a while so you might as well be comfortable.”
Public Health Wales has launched a new campaign called Every Child Wales, which aims to improve the health and wellbeing of children under five.
For more information visit www.everychildwales.co.uk or follow @EveryChildWales on Twitter and Facebook.