RCPCH publishes recommendations for breastfeeding

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) has published new guidance on breastfeeding, highlighting the health benefits and importance of tackling the UK’s low rates.

The RCPCH has published new guidance on breastfeeding that has been backed by midwives and health visitors. It is based on the latest research and aims to give practical advice on how long women should consider breastfeeding

The RCPCH has said that as ‘social stigma is a major barrier to breastfeeding’, more must be done to support women to continue breastfeeding beyond the first few weeks.

The RCPCH has advised that mothers should be encouraged and supported to breastfeed exclusively for up to six months, solid food should not be introduced before four months, and solid food should be introduced from six months, ideally alongside breastfeeding to ensure the infant has adequate nutrition.

It has also advised that mothers should be supported to continue breastfeeding for as long as they wish, since in countries like the UK evidence is lacking to recommend any particular duration of breastfeeding.

The recommendations also include: governments in each nation to ensure familiarity with breastfeeding is included as part of a statutory personal, social and health education in schools; UK government to legislate for employers to support breastfeeding through parental leave, feeding breaks and facilities suitable for breastfeeding or expressing breast milk; local breastfeeding support to be planned and delivered to mothers in the form of evaluated, structured programmes; and the NHS to ensure the preservation of universal midwifery services, among others.

The RCPCH also points to Unicef research that concludes even moderate increases in breastfeeding could save the NHS up to £40 million a year through fewer GP consultations and hospital admissions.

The statement warns that the rate of breastfeeding in the UK is among the lowest in world and shows little sign of improving. Latest figures show that only 40 per cent of babies are breast feeding at 6-8 weeks of age.

Explanations for the low prevalence of breastfeeding in the UK are complex. Women report difficulties in establishing breastfeeding, concerns about whether their baby is receiving enough milk and societal attitudes which leave them uncomfortable about breastfeeding in public or around friends and family. In addition, a lack of practical support and occasionally conflicting or overly dogmatic advice from healthcare professionals has also been cited.

The RCPCH is therefore calling for a collective, long-term plan to change the culture of breastfeeding involving educating children at school, families and the wider public.

The statement marks the start of an ongoing campaign to improve breastfeeding in the UK, which it will deliver in partnerships with other organisations.

Neena Modi, president of RCPCH, said: “World Breastfeeding Week is 25 years old today, but the UK has little to celebrate in terms of its record. The health benefits of breastfeeding are beyond question, from reduced likelihood of intestinal, respiratory and ear infections to hospitalisation.

“Regrettably the attitudes of a large part of society mean breastfeeding is not always encouraged; local support is patchy, advice is not always consistent and often overly dogmatic, support in the workplace not always conducive to continued breastfeeding and perhaps most worryingly breastfeeding in public is still often stigmatised. It is no wonder that for many mothers, there are too many barriers.

“With the right support and guidance, the vast majority of women should be able to breastfeed. But although it’s natural, it doesn’t always come naturally. Some mothers cannot, or choose not to, breastfeed and this also needs to be respected. What society must get better at is removing the multiple barriers which can stand in the way of breastfeeding.”