Breastfeeding rates in England remain amongst the lowest in Europe.  Initiation rates  are around 78%, but within one week the number exclusively breastfeeding drops to 46%, and by 6 weeks it is down to 22%.  At 6 months, only 26% of mothers are breastfeeding, with barely 1% doing so exclusively (UK Infant Feeding Survey 2005).

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that infants are fed exclusively on breastmilk until the age of six months and then breastfed alongside food for as long as the mother and baby are happy.  Evidence suggests that as well as providing all the energy and nutrients that the child needs in its first few months of life, breastmilk promotes sensory and cognitive development.  It leads to slower, healthier weight gain,  reducing the chance of later obesity.  It provides greater protection from infectious and chronic disease.  Babies breastfed for a minimum of six months are less likely to experience colic, constipation, vomiting, diarrhoea, chest infections and thrush. Breastfeeding has also been shown to reduce the risk of ovarian and breast cancer in mothers (Department of Health, 2011).

NHS Devon is committed to providing universal, coordinated information and support for pregnant and breastfeeding women to promote initiation and continuation of breastfeeding.

Related information:

• Policy for Community Breastfeeding (January 2011)
• Parents guide to the Community Breastfeeding Policy
• Breastfeeding Care Pathway
• Baby and you - Your breastfeeding journey
• Breastfeeding support groups
• You are welcome to breastfeed here poster

Information for health professionals:

• Best practice for breastfeeding peer support guide
• GP Practice training presentation

UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative - Three day course in Breastfeeding Management - Participant's handbook

This is large document so we have made it available section by section for ease of download and viewing:

• Cover and contents
• Chapter 1 - Introduction
• Chapter 2 - Why breastfeeding is important
• Chapter 3 - How breastfeeding works
• Chapter 4 - Helping mothers initiate and maintain breastfeeding
• Chapter 5 - Supporting women with practical skills and information
• Chapter 6 - Making sure babies get enough milk
• Chapter 7 - When babies come early or are ill
• Chapter 8 - Assessing breasts and breastfeeding
• Chapter 9 - Challenges to breastfeeding in the early days
• Chapter 10 - Challenges to breastfeeding in the later days
• Chapter 11 - Alternative methods of feeding a baby
• Chapter 12 - Sources of breastfeeding support for women
• Chapter 13 - The International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes
• Appendix 1 - HIV and AIDS
• Appendix 2 - Breastfeeding observation checklist
• Appendix 3 - Breastfeeding history form
• Appendix 4 - Completing the course - Practical Skills Review
• Appendix 5 - Support available nationally for breastfeeding mothers
• Appendix 6 - Useful books and websites