Millions of new mothers are missing out on vital breastfeeding support, a new survey has revealed.
Breastfeeding helps reduce the risk of infections for babies and protects against harmful disorders in later life including diabetes and obesity.
But despite this, the UK has one of the lowest rates of breastfeeding in the world, with just one in 200 choosing to breastfeed their child after their first birthday.
Now new research has revealed that breastfeeding support is missing in many parts of the country, with help from peers only being available in 56 per cent of the UK.
The lack of provisions for new mothers has been caused by a decline in funding in many parts of the country, according to the researchers.
BREASTFEEDING REDUCES A WOMAN’S RISK OF PAIN AFTER A C-SECTION BY THREE TIMES
Yorkshire and north-east London were particularly bad at providing breastfeeding support to new mothers, according to the researchers.
Coordinators reported that a lack of funding is to blame in the decline of breastfeeding support, the research found.
‘Unacceptable’ attitudes to breastfeeding
Juliet Mountford, director of services at parents’ charity NCT, said she was disappointed but not shocked by the findings.
‘Research shows that 80 per cent of mums who stop breastfeeding in the early days do so before they wanted to and women tell us how much they value skilled support to help them continue,’ she told the Guardian.
She added the findings reinforce the need for a change in attitude toward breastfeeding mothers.
‘There needs to be a shift in societal values and attitudes to breastfeeding.
‘[Mothers] are still made to feel uncomfortable and embarrassed when breastfeeding in public places – this is unacceptable and needs to change.’
RUMOR BUS 