First time mum Pamela Flood supports National Breastfeeding Week

HSE National Breastfeeding Week was officially launched today (Friday, 30th September 2011) by TV personality and new mum Pamela Flood with a group of breastfeeding mothers and their babies in St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2.

HSE National Breastfeeding Week runs from Saturday 1st October to Friday 7th October.  The theme this year is ‘Breastfeeding Friendly’, which aims >to portray breastfeeding when out and about as a normal, natural part of daily life.

Speaking about her experience of breastfeeding, Pamela Flood said, ‘Breastfeeding has been brilliant for both me and my little boy.  Not only has it been the best for him nutritionally, it is so handy and easy to do anywhere.  It’s an incredibly bonding thing to do with your baby.’

The HSE will lead the Breastfeeding Friendly initiative by supporting breastfeeding in HSE premises.  HSE centres and hospitals will display Breastfeeding Friendly posters and other promotional materials demonstrating that they support breastfeeding and provide a welcoming atmosphere for breastfeeding mums. 

The Breastfeeding Friendly campaign seeks to highlight that:

• Breastfeeding is the perfect way to feed children and also fits in with the demands of modern life
• Women should be supported to continue to breastfeed as long as they wish
• We can all work together to encourage greater social acceptance of this important and natural practice when women are out and about.

 According to Siobhan Hourigan, National Breastfeeding Coordinator, HSE, ‘>Approximately half of all babies are breastfeed on leaving hospital which is an improvement on the one in three rate recorded in 2000.  Rates are still low when compared to other countries.  We must continue our efforts to encourage women to breastfeed and to highlight the positive benefits for them and their baby.

‘The number of mothers breastfeeding at three months reduces often because mothers feel there is a lack of support particularly when they want to breastfeed their baby outside the home. 

‘We, as health service providers, want to ensure that mothers are welcomed and helped to feel comfortable to breastfeed their children when and where the need arises. Breastfeeding is perfectly natural and is so convenient when you are out and about with your child.

‘Breastmilk is the perfect food for infants and young children. It’s convenient, free and environmentally friendly. Breastfeeding ensures optimal growth, development and health, not just while breastfeeding continues but throughout life. The longer a mother breastfeeds the greater the health protection for her and her baby.’

 The World Health Organisation, Department of Health and the HSE recommend that babies are exclusively breastfeed for the first 6 months of life and from 6 months on continue to be breastfed and receive nourishing foods up to 2 years old or beyond.

 To mark National Breastfeeding Week there are events taking place across the country.  For example

• The 2011 Quintessence Breastfeeding Challenge, organised by Friends of Breastfeeding, takes place in Dublin, Cork and Offaly on Saturday 1st October – see friendsofbreastfeeding.ie for more details.
• Lactation Consultant / Midwife Information Stand every day during National Breastfeeding Week in the foyer of the Coombe Women’s and Infants University Hospital.
• Nutrition and Breastfeeding workshop in McLaughlin’s Cafe, Knocknacarra, Co Galway on Tuesday 4th October 2011 at 2.30pm.
• West Kerry Primary Care Team, La Leche League and HSE Nutritionist are hosting a coffee morning in Bluirini Blasta Lispole, Dingle on Thursday 6th October at 11.30am.      
• Ballygall Breastfeeding support group Glasnevin/Finglas hosting a coffee morning in Fr Maloney Hall on Thursday 6th October, 10.30am -12.30pm 
• Cuidiu coffee morning in Go Safari Activity Center outside Carrigtwohill, Cork on Thursday 6th October, 10.30am-12.30pm.

All events are open to parents and babies, and expectant families. A full list of events around the country is available on www.breastfeeding.ie.

National Breastfeeding Week also highlights the support that is available throughout the country for expectant and breastfeeding mothers.

Siobhan Hourigan continued, ‘>We encourage women who are considering breastfeeding to attend a breastfeeding support group and seek information during their pregnancy. This helps you to feel more confident and well prepared.  >So what we’re saying to women who want to breastfeed, don’t feel like you’re on your own and please don’t give up. We’re here to help so give us the chance to do that.’

Breastfeeding support groups are provided by HSE Public Health Nurses, La Leche League and Cuidiu – Irish Childbirth Trust around the country.  Women can attend for support and the opportunity to meet other mothers. Other health professionals including Midwives, GPs, Practice Nurses and Dieticians also provide one-to-one information and support. For details of support in your county log on to www.breastfeeding.ie

 Expert breastfeeding support is also provided by voluntary organisations such as La Leche League www.lalecheleagueireland.com, Cuidiú - Irish Childbirth Trust  www.cuidiu-ict.ie and Friends of Breastfeeding www.friendsofbreastfeeding.ie.

 >ENDS>

press@hse.ie

Notes to editors:

• The positive impact of breastfeeding shows a dose-response relationship with improved health outcomes associated with longer breastfeeding duration and lasting many years after the cessation of breastfeeding (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2005). The WHO, Department of Health and HSE recommend that children are exclusively breastfed for 6 months. Thereafter they should continue to breastfeed in combination with appropriate complementary foods to two years of age and beyond.
• Breastfeeding rates in Ireland have increased gradually over recent years. However, they continue to fall well below international standards (OECD, 2009).
• The ESRI recently published breastfeeding rates for 2009. Over half of all babies (52.6%) were breastfed (exclusive and combined) on discharge from hospital. Over forty five percent (45.5%) of babies were reported to be exclusively breastfed at discharge from hospital, this compares to 38% in 2000 (ESRI, 2011).
• Duration rates are low in Ireland, with a national average of 25% of infants exclusively breastfed at 3 months. Rates at 3 months in some counties are as low as 8.5% (HSE, 2010). In addition to efforts to increase breastfeeding rates in Ireland, attention must also be paid to increasing the duration of breastfeeding.
• Many Irish mothers report that they stopped breastfeeding earlier than planned (Tarrant et al, 2010). One issue for mothers is the lack of support, when they want to breastfeed out and about. While, equality legislation exists to protect the right to breastfeed in public places, positive attitudes towards breastfeeding can also help to support mothers and to increase breastfeeding rates and duration.
• Comprehensive social marketing approaches including interventions to increase public awareness (through media and other outlets) have been shown to increase rates of initiation and duration while also improving perceptions of community support for breastfeeding (CDC, 2005). The ‘Breastfeeding Friendly’ campaign aims to create a supportive environment in accordance with Action 30 of the strategic action plan Breastfeeding in Ireland (DoH&C, 2005): “Breastfeeding mothers and babies will be protected from discrimination in public places”. The Health Service Executive is identified as a lead agency for this action.