There is a vast swathe of evidence showing the positive effects of breastfeeding on the health of mothers and babies.
More than a year ago, post-natal guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) recommended that every maternity unit should implement the Baby Friendly Initiative. This global benchmark grants the Baby Friendly Award to hospitals that put in place policies to promote breastfeeding and make sure all staff have been trained in how to help women breastfeed.
But figures just out from Unicef show that only 10 per cent of women in England give birth in hospitals accredited with the baby friendly award. And nearly four out of 10 (38 per cent) of maternity hospitals in England have failed to make efforts to put in place best practice around breastfeeding.
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