Breastfeeding Awareness Week in Kent
22 June 2010, 00:00
Heart's been speaking to some new mums in Kent as research shows that many are giving up breastfeeding because they're not getting enough help.
The findings, to coincide with Breastfeeding Awareness Week, reveal that more than a third of women will stop breastfeeding altogether while 22 per cent will carry on but only after an initial struggle.
Many women said they didn't know who to go to for help and got confused by getting different advice from lots of different people.
The study of 3,000 mums revealed 9 in 10 mums were worried they were doing something wrong during the first few months of their child's life.
Breastfeeding awareness week has been running for more than 15 years to try and promote the benefits of breastfeeding and make it more socially acceptable so women feel comfortable feeding their baby while they're out in public places.
Nicola has been along to Feeding Friends in Parkwood, Rainham to chat to a peer supporter and mums - click here to listen to their advice and experiences
Benefits of breastfeeding for baby*
It helps protect against:
- ear infections
- gastro-intestinal infections
- chest infections
- urine infections
- childhood diabetes
- eczema
- obesity
- asthma
- Benefits of breastfeeding for mothers
It helps protect against
- ovarian cancer
- breast cancer
- weak bones in later life
Women who breastfeed return to their pre-pregnancy figure faster.
* from NHS breastfeeding website