National Breastfeeding Awareness Week is an annual health campaign coordinated by the Department of Health to promote the benefits of breastfeeding and encourage more mums to give it a go. This year, the awareness campaign will focus on the importance of support during breastfeeding from those closest to mothers: partners, peers and family members.

The benefits of breastfeeding for you and your baby cannot be measured in health terms alone. The pride a mum feels when she looks at her healthy, growing breastfed baby cannot be underestimated.

With just one day of breastfeeding making a difference to a baby's health by stabilising their blood sugars, protecting their gut and providing natural antibodies against disease, each mother should be encouraged to at least try breastfeeding.

During Breastfeeding Awareness Week 14th - 20th May 2006, all mums are being encouraged to feel proud of breastfeeding, whether they breastfeed for one day or one year, as research shows that every feed makes a positive difference to both mother and baby.

Nine out of ten women who stop breastfeeding in the first six weeks have stopped before they want to. One of the common reasons given for stopping, is that women often didn't receive accurate information and support when they needed it.

Many people do not realise that the benefits of breastfeeding start straight away. It is believed that if more mothers knew this, they would feel it was worth starting breastfeeding even if they are not sure about how long they will continue.

There are lot's of activities happening to support Breastfeeding Awareness Week, and we have a fabulous Breastfeeding guide on the site to support and advice mums.

UNICEF estimates that 1.5 million babies worldwide die each year because they are not breastfed. In England and Wales 29% of mothers do not breastfeed. Yet we know that breast is best for the health of mother and baby.

What we need is an environment where women of all ethnic, social and cultural backgrounds are comfortable with feeding their baby anywhere and at any time. To do this we need to create an atmosphere of support from friends, family, partners and health professionals. The more vocal this support the stronger the encouragement to new mothers to take up and carry on breastfeeding their infant.

From www.breastfeeding.nhs.uk

Your Comments

I am really enjoying breastfeeding, it is such a close bond with your child, and to know that you are giving your child the best start in life. Megan is five months old now and exclusively breastfed. I attend a breastfeeding support group where I get lots of encouragement, support and friendship.

Helen Stevenson

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