Breast is best: just maybe in private?

摘要

Few people today would argue formula feeding is superior to breastfeeding, with the nutritional, immunological, and emotional benefits of breastfeeding being well documented.1 The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends women should breastfeed their infants exclusively for at least the first 6 months. Yet despite recent efforts to increase maternal education as to why ‘breast is best’, UK breastfeeding rates still fall short. Within the UK only 35% of mothers breastfeed at 1 week, decreasing to as little as 3% at 5 months.2 These low rates have called for a change in our breastfeeding culture. Incentive schemes that pay mothers to breastfeed are being trialled in South Yorkshire and Derbyshire, in which mothers exclusively breastfeeding at 6 months receive £200 in high-street vouchers.3 However do we need financial incentives to look after our children? Some would argue ‘yes’ in accordance with our exceptionally low breastfeeding rates. However others would argue that we need to tackle the ‘bigger picture’ and spend this money on improving support, advice, and providing continuity of care.