WHAT CAN BE DONE TO INCREASE BREAST FEEDING RATES IN THE UK.

[lissie]

we all know that postnatal care is a huge factor, but what else can be done?


i speak as a failed bf-er who will try again with every baby i have, but supports the mothers right to choose.

[indiemummy]

thelady - what a lovely idea, I think a comfy chair and somewhere secluded, with water to drink and maybe magazines to read, would be just fine.

The truth is, many women want their bodies 'back' after 9 tough months. They have decided before baby arrives that they will probably use formula and may even know which brand. They say things like: 'I would have liked to breastfeed, but it was so hard and I had to do what I could to make myself happy / stop going mad / get back on an even keel'. They want to get out of the house without the baby and not have to worry about expressing and leaky boobs (which, let's face it, can be a bit of a palaver!). I've heard this kind of thing loads of times.

These people don't really WANT to breastfeed so no amount of bf counsellors or postnatal support will help, as they won't access it.

The idea that someone suggested that formula milk should be unbranded is interesting. It should just be government-issue and come in grey tins and cartons!

I think tackling attitudes like this is the most important thing.

[rosmerta]

The NCT is running a campaign to protect mothers and babies from the effects of formula advertising which would surely raise bf rates? For more info on what you can do go to their website

[thelady]

OK, a request for practical suggestions here please.

I run a small hotel. I would like to provide for breastfeeding mums. I can't provide a separate room for feeding - it's simply not practical - although there is a ground floor room (used to be a small dining room) which isn't heavily used at the mo.

On the basis that there's very little child-friendly in our town, and as I'm expecting my first in Dec, I'm hoping to at least show willing.

At a minimum, what would you need in the way of facilities in a place that aimed to be breast-feeding friendly?

In addition, what facilities would be on your dream wish-list? I know I won't be able to provide everything (expense, space, etc) but it would be nice to know.

[evenhope]

I've just been having a chat with my 21 yo DD about bf. She feels it's disgusting to have "something feeding off you". (I will add she's a Drama graduate and thinks that being pregnant is equally disgusting, and that she'll ask one of her friends to be a surrogate-she's not in the real world).

But it made me that she felt that way because for the first 6.5 years of her life I was either pg or bf, so she should have absorbed the idea that bf is "normal", as we never did the top-up thing.

If somebody brought up with extended bf still feels it's disgusting, that suggests that schools should play a role during PCHSE (or whatever it's called these days) to provide information about infant nutrition, so that boys and girls get the facts before they are old enough to be put off.

My DD came out with the classic "at least someone else can feed the baby if you bottlefeed". When I put it to her that OK if I was ff do you see daddy getting up in the night she had to concede that it would still be me on duty.

Perhaps a soap needs a young girl with an overbearing MIL and a storyline where MIL takes over the feeding and expects the mum to rush about making tea etc when she'd really rather sit with the baby herself?

[chocbutton]

Haven't read all posts yet, but here is my contribution, along similar lines....
-better support in hospital/at home
-realistic antenatal classes that explain that it will hurt, that you will feel you are constantly feeding at first and that it has to be learnt by both mum and baby - you expect it to come naturally just like it seems to in the books!
-free lansinoh starter tube!
-better facilities in shops/restaurants - I am still BF my DS at 7 months, yet I was so self conscious at first. I made sure I went to baby friendly places at first, (with my mum for support)and wore easy BF tops - still found it quite difficult, and luckily not had any bad reactions, although would be able to stand up to people now. Have heard horror stories on here about people being asked to leave places, and this would have really affected me in the first few outings. Have to say that the baby friendly places get my business again and again, I wouldn't ever return to some places where I was expected to feed in the toilet etc.
-better education for public at large, including MIL's etc!!

[feo]

I've breastfed for nearly 6 mths now and I think one of the key things is getting the right information. Easier said than done. My local hospital and the midwives have been good but the internet (kellymom) and mumsnet pages have been the most useful. I don't breastfeed in public just because I'd feel too self-conscious. Babyfeeding (and changing) facilities are often poor, even in the big stores (in Tesco babies and the disabled apparently have similar needs!Normalising bf by having good facilities as the norm in workplaces and restaurants etc would help. You do feel a little like the poor relation as you squash you and baby into some of the miniscule rooms / areas provided. Having said all this though I do think that it is up to the individual mother whether she feels (or can) breastfeed. I've been ok but from what I've read on mumsnet there are lots of things that can hinder successful bf.

[gogetter]

Tiktok I agree, the numbers are very low, but as someone working in the industry the choice for education just isn't out there. It's midwifery or nursing which a 3 /4 yr degrees and apart from that there is a few random courses for maternity nursing or doula courses as well as other short day courses which I don't think give a great amount of training - I think there should be some middle ground so that people can study post-natal care to a higher standard without doing a full midwifery course. There needs to be wider spread training and yes I agree if MV and health visitors were trained better in BFing this would work well.
I wonder though how many mums research breast feeding before attempting it? People are often told it will be simple as pie and we can see from threads like this though that the case isn't so. Education of more support workers and parents at an ante-natal stage would obviously help. Although of course it is the choice of some women not to breast feed and that is their choice.

[movingmumma]

um this will sound a bit like appealing to vanity but I really found Breastfeeding helped get my body back on track. There's nothing like breastfeeding for tightening all those bits that suddenly seem to be sticking out. It was bl**dy tough in the beginning and I was bullied in the hosptial and told I couldn't go home until my baby was feeding. I found being in hospital very stressful which of course made matters worse... but somehow we stuck with it and I and my little one got the hang of it.

I also think having midwifes come to your home is invaluable. Mine were brilliant. I remember crying when my DS had fallen weight wise more than he should have... the team were so helpful and I felt so much more relaxed at home. I certainly think hospitals shouldn't make women feel they are trapped there. Sleepless and exhausted my DH and I actually forgot that we had the right to leave the hosptial right there and then and were pathetically grateful when I was finally told feeding had been established and we could all go home... seems like a lifetime ago now but it certainly made me want a home birth next time - I wouldn't have felt like this if this hadn't happened as my midwifes were wonderful.

[lissie]

can i jump in and ask you to sign these please!

[tiktok]

Then Starlight, you need to let the bfc know where she is going wrong, then....I do bf classes, and I am careful to mix confidence-boosting with reality, but I probably get things wrong, too. It is very hard to do a class that meets everyone's needs, and I am sure some of us do it better than others.

I am also aware that people do hear different things and come away with different impressions. Many bfcs report that their classes evaluate as, say 'never mentioned sore nipples' or 'would have liked more information on how to breastfeed' when we know we included it all!

How could the bfc who took your class spend 2.5 hours talking about breastfeeding and leave you unwilling to seek help in case she critcised you (which she would not have done, believe me)? She needs to know you were left feeling you could not call her. Part of the raison d'etre of classes - and this is in the training - is to be someone who class members can feel ok about calling.

[tiktok]

Most hospital-based infant feeding specialists would prob not be the right person to talk over a decision to stop, I agree, Crumpets. Breastfeeding counsellors - the proper ones! - can do this, and I often do....we help the mother make up her own mind, and then if she wants to stop, she needs to know the smoothest and most comfortable way to do it.

Maybe some mums do want a medically-valid back-up for a decision to stop - but as there is only rarely a medically-valid reason, there must be a lot of fudging going on (in the mum's own head, too).

In my experience, GPs really don't know how to help a mother stop in the 'best' way - not their fault as there is no training, as you say.

I would like it if GPs were able to appreciate they don't know enough, and not to make it up! I am certain they do not mean to sabotage breastfeeding relationships, but this is what happens in effect.

[Crumpets]

As I sit here with a baby covered in butternut squash and a nappy full of scary poo I am yearning for the days of milk and milk alone...

[Crumpets]

Maybe she's not a bf counsellor, she's an infant feeding specialist. I think she used to be a midwife. She works out of the hospital but runs groups for bf support etc separately.

I think a lot of the people we see as doctors are people whove made up their mind that they want to stop, are scared of their hv and are looking for medical validation for their decision. I expect a lot of the time they get just that. I wonder how many doctors would know where to point a woman for help if the HV wasn't an option. Sadly, unless you've breastfed yourself I don't think most GPs have enough knowledge or time (sad old excuse but you really can't do much in 10 minutes).

[tiktok]

Crumpets, support that translates as pressure is no good at all, I so agree.

Can you raise this with the HV and the hospital bfc (is she really a breastfeeding counsellor? Very few 'real' breastfeeding counsellors work in hospitals - the vast majority of trained bfcs are unpaid volunteers )? Also, mothers of older babies are very unlikely to call the hospital for help. With my suggestion, I meant to offer them the possibility of calling/seeing a breastfeeding counsellor, none of whom would put pressure on a mother (or if they did, they would not be doing their job right).

Mentors, in bf terms, are peer supporters and there must be hundreds and hundreds of them now - far more than bfcs. Is there a peer support programme in your area? Peer supporters offer friendship and social support, and are trained in listening and in basic bf knowledge.

[Crumpets]

Yes, Tiktok I agree, there needs to be a lot of support but the reason I think the women I've seen have come to me rather than the bfc (there is an extremely good one in my local hospital, I rang her twice myself) or their health visitor is because those are the people they feel are putting on the pressure. I think the idea of having a mentor is brilliant. I am very lucky, the lady who did my ANC was fantastic and offered a weekly baby club after birth for advice/support and every one of the mums in our group (about 10) breast fed for several months, most are still doing so (at 6-7months). Statistics like that can't be chance, that's the difference good support makes.

[sazzerbear]

Definitely more education and support postnatally - bf mums should be able to contact a mentor (ie another mum who is successfully bf, as was mentioned previously in another message). I have been bf for 12 weeks now but in the early stages it was hell - I nearly gave up, only one mum I was in hospital with is still bf. The midwives in hospital were very pro-bf and helpful but it was when I got home I really needed extra assistance, I felt under a lot of pressure to keep going and that I would be a failure if I gave up which did not help my mental state in the early days! Also more acceptance for women bf in public and places to bf.

[Tigana]

I think the editor of Company (or was it GLamour?) mag could help a littl emore. SIL and friend bought above mags, in editorial of one (the one with Myleene Klass on cover) Editor says (to paraphrase slightly) "yes, breastfeeding does ruin your boobs".

Helpful.
And somewhat misleading as 'just' being pregnant contributes muchly to any 'ruination'

[lissie]

can you look at this thread please here

[tiktok]

gogetter - where are the lactation consultants going to come from? There are about 80 in the whole of the UK, and most are already working full time in other capacities. Last time I looked there were about 15 in private practice.

How are they going to make 2-3 visits to the 450,000 mothers who start breastfeeding a year???

I go back to my position of asking for the people who are already in touch with new mums - the HVs and midwives - to be trained to do their job better!

[tiktok]

Crumpets, mums whose babies are latched constantly to the point where the mum feels the baby is never anything but desperate for a feed, miserable, or actually feeding, may need a lot of help and support to continue bf, to help make it work for them....fixing the bf so it is not this unrewarding chore. I agree it is not good for a mum and baby to be like this. They can get help, though - any competent bfc will be experienced in handling a situation like this with support and tact.

[gogetter]

I think there should be at least 2 or 3 visits by a lactation consultants to mums within 48 hrs of leaving the hospital. Plus follow ups by phone and more visits to mums who are struggling.
I think too much pre-natal focus is on the birth, mums should be fully educated on latching on, how breast milk is produced, how to keep up a good supply and post-natal preperation rather than hours of advice on breathing techniques as although these are benificial you'll have help at hand to guide you when you are giving birth.
Also I think all mums should be able to afford an electric breast pump. 85 quid is ridiculous - you can get kettles for about 20 pounds so why should breast pumps be so damn expensive! Plus all mums should be given a brest friend feeding pillow - make things much more pleasant!!
yay for boobies.......

[Crumpets]

Oh sorry, I am ill informed. And I agree, it wouldn't make any difference to an individual.

I'm a GP and my only worry is that I think quite a lot of mothers who are struggling to bf feel terribly pressured. I have seen women who are literally trying to feed all the time (baby latched constantly) and I don't think that is good for either of them. Everyone knows breast is best (well, except a few of the people of this tread perhaps) but it needs to be said gently. The last thing you need when you're coping with a new baby is added stress.

[tiktok]

Crumpets - loads of celeb mums talk about breastfeeding!

Including Myleen and many others.

I don't think it makes any difference to individual mothers, though, I really don't.

[Crumpets]

It's very trendy to be a mum these days, all the celebrities are at it, but you never hear them talking about breast feeding. I think the media attitude isn't very positive. In books if it's ever referred to it's always some earth mother type 'flopping' her boobs out and offending people. There need to be some positive role models. Maybe Charlotte Church, Myleen Klass, someone like that should be brought on side. (Though I imagine if the paparazzi were following me around I'd be a bit reluctant to flop anything out too!)