Low levels of breastfeeding in the UK may be the result of myths among women, says a survey published by the Department of Health.
Ninety-five per cent of the 1,000 women surveyed believed that breastfeeding comes naturally to some and not to others. And 87 per cent believed some women don't produce enough milk to be able to breastfeed.
Public health minister Melanie Johnson said: "A decision to breastfeed, especially if sustained for the first six months of a baby's life, can make a major contribution to infant health and development as well as benefiting mums."
Home visiting can boost breastfeeding rates, according to research published last week by the Health Development Agency. The UK has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in Europe, with almost a third of young women in England and Wales never breastfeeding, compared to two per cent in Sweden.
- www.hda.nhs.uk.
