www.grub4life.com reports that campaigners are calling on the government to drop the "breast is best" slogan, because it is not convincing new mums to breast feed. The Breastfeeding Network wants breastfeeding to be seen as the norm - not something special - as the slogan suggests.
26-07-2010
Biological norm
The network wants to normalise breastfeeding and create the right conditions for mothers to breastfeed in comfort. They have expressed that it’s important to communicate to new mums that breastfeeding is free and easy, and the normal way to feed a baby. The Department of Health is in agreement when it comes to the benefits of breastfeeding, but says it is not their slogan.
Previous studies have shown that babies who are breast-fed may be less likely to become overweight children. Research has also shown that Breast-fed infants also have a lower risk of gastroenteritis and respiratory and ear infections.
Other Adventages
The advantages also extend to women who breastfeed. They may lose the weight they gained in pregnancy faster and they also lower their risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer, experts say.
Figures show that eight in 10 women in England start off breastfeeding but only one in five is still breastfeeding when their baby is six months old.
In a survey of 3,000 mothers, four in 10 struggled to get to grips with breastfeeding their newborn.
Read the full story at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/10368037.stm.
Source and thanks to news.bbc.co.uk.
Nigel Denby comments:
Anything that helps Mums who can't or won't breastfeed stop being made to inferior has to be a good thing in my book. I fully accept the evidence which points to the benefits of breastfeeding but I really don't like to attitude that anyone who doesn't breastfeed is some how an inferior Mum. For those Mums who try to breast feed but give up after a short time it's support, help and guidance they need.
