Breastfeeding crisis

The UK has the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world at one year, according to a recent review of all the evidence on breastfeeding.

Rates of starting breastfeeding have been increasing over the last 20 years thanks to better communication about the importance of breastfeeding.

However rates then plummet in the first few weeks post birth and most mothers say that they stopped breastfeeding before they wanted to.

A series on breastfeeding published in The Lancet last week (January 28) shows that the breastfeeding crisis in the UK is a crisis of lack of support for mothers who choose to breastfeed.

Obi Amadi, lead professional officer for Unite’s Community Practitioner’s and Health Visitors’ Association (CPHVA) has signed an open letter on the crisis in breastfeeding issued today (February 9) calling on the government to safeguard the public health budget as a matter of urgency.

The recent cuts to breastfeeding support services and infant feeding specialist posts are driven by cuts to public health, which totals ÂŁ200m in England.

“It is very clear that the government must commission the range of services that have been proven to support women to establish and sustain breastfeeding,” said Obi.

The letter highlights the strategy the government must implement in order to improve breastfeeding rates in the UK.

It calls on the government and the national assemblies to establish a national breastfeeding committee, for all UK mothers to receive skilled, evidence based breastfeeding support, to safeguard the public spending budget, end the advertising of follow-on formula and enforce the requirement for employers to provide breaks for mothers to breastfeed or express milk at work.

The Lancet report confirms the long-term health protection from breastfeeding, even in more affluent countries like the UK and states that low rates of breastfeeding cost our economy billions of pounds.

“The health benefits of breastfeeding are well known so implementing the steps outlined should be an obvious choice,” said Obi.

The letter has been signed by midwives, health visitors, paediatricians, lactation consultants, breastfeeding counsellors, peer supporters, university researchers and others who work for professional organisations and charities that support families.

“The UK government needs to follow the lead of the Scottish and NI assemblies’ commitment to policy and structural support, including appointing a national infant feeding coordinator,” added Obi.

Read the full letter here.