Breastfeeding Awareness Week in the UK

National Breastfeeding Awareness Week is a UK-wide annual event that has taken place in England since 1993. Run by the Department of Health, the goal of the week is to highlight that breastfeeding is the healthiest feeding option for babies and mothers.

This year's focus is on getting mothers to breastfeed longer. In the UK, many women begin breastfeeding after birth but quickly switch to mixed feeding often called topping-up or to complete bottle-feeding.

The 2005 Infant Feeding Survey by the UK Health Department showed that initial breastfeeding rates were 78 per cent in England, 70 per cent in Scotland, 67 per cent in Wales, and 63 per cent in Northern Ireland. Yet the study found that just 45 per cent of all mothers in the United Kingdom were breastfeeding exclusively at one week, while 21 per cent were feeding exclusively at six weeks. At four months the figure was 7 per cent while at six months the proportion of mothers who were breastfeeding exclusively was negligible. Exclusive breastfeeding means that no infant formula was given.

If you consider mixed feeding, which is combining breastfeeding with bottles of infant formula, the results were marginally better. The study results showed that 48 per cent of all mothers in the United Kingdom were breastfeeding at six weeks, while 25 per cent were still breastfeeding at six months.

These results are in stark contrast to the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommendation that infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life. Breastfeeding should continue for at least 2 years with weaning foods added at 6 months of age.

Atomic Kitten Jenny Nash is supporting the efforts of National Breastfeeding Week by promoting the Breast Buddy project. This initiative will support women to breastfeed for longer by encouraging nominations of a buddy from within their circle of friends and family, who can provide practical and emotional support while breastfeeding. Jenny says "I loved breastfeeding, but there were hard times so it really helps to have support so you can keep on going. Having recently had a baby of my own, I understand how valuable a bit of extra help is, in addition to that offered by your midwife or health visitor." (Source: NHS breastfeeding website)

Adding her voice to Jenny's endorsement of prolonged breastfeeding from a Welsh perspective is singer Charlotte Church. At 21, a young mum herself Charlotte wants to encourage young mothers to breastfeed. "I don't know why so few young mums choose to breastfeed but I think there are a lot of myths out there. Feeding Ruby myself has been such a positive experience and I would definitely recommend to other mums that they try it," she said. (Source: Sky News)