Breastfeeding rates on the up as mums take to the streets to raise awareness during National Breastfeeding Week
More babies are being breastfed now than 10 years ago
A group of mums have given a whole new meaning to the phrase “flashmob” in Manchester, this National Breastfeeding Week. To promote breastfeeding awareness, more than 100 mums descended on the Trafford Centre to breastfeed their babies in public.
The flashmob was organised by NHS breastfeeding co-coordinator, Alison Healy. She explained why she was raising awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding.
“The likelihood of a healthy life for babies is greatly enhanced by parents choosing to breastfeed,” explained Alison. “New mums should feel proud of their decision to breastfeed and know that they can get support from their local midwives and health visitors.”
It seems that raising awareness is successfully encouraging UK mums to give breastfeeding a go. New figures suggest that 80% of new mums give breastfeeding a try now, compared to only 60% back in 1990. The NHS Information Centre also found that 81% of mums in the UK now breastfeed for at least six weeks, up from 62% in 1990.
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