Power of mother's milk highlighted at breastfeeding conference

The benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and babies were the focus today at the all-island conference on breastfeeding, organised by the Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland (HPA) and the Health Service Executive in the Republic of Ireland.

This is the third all-island breastfeeding conference and this year the conference highlighted how breastfeeding can make a real difference to the health of women and children. The unique contribution breastfeeding can make to public health by reducing the risk of infections, diabetes, obesity and childhood and female cancers has further been confirmed by the World Health Organization and World Cancer Research Fund in recent publications.

However, despite the major benefits of breastfeeding and the increase in initiation rates of feeding, Ireland still lags well behind when it comes to sustaining breastfeeding after the first few weeks. This is extremely challenging given the predominant bottlefeeding culture here.

Speaking at the conference Gabrielle Palmer, a nutritionist and author who has worked for UNICEF, said: "All over Ireland dedicated people work overtime to help women breastfeed. All their good work is cancelled out if you allow the baby food and bottle companies to keep on advertising. It's like mopping your kitchen floor and letting your kids run through in their muddy trainers. Worldwide 3,000 babies die every day from infections due to the unnecessary use of bottles, artificial milks and other risky products which are unethically promoted.”

Janet Calvert, Regional Breastfeeding Coordinator at the HPA, said: “In recent years breastfeeding rates throughout Ireland have increased. However, many women still struggle in the early days and weeks of breastfeeding. Information and support from health professionals, partners, family and friends is so important in enabling a mother to continue breastfeeding. The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months with continued breastfeeding up to two years of age.¹ This is ultimately what everyone involved in breastfeeding would like to see being achieved here and it could be possible if breastfeeding is given the support it truly deserves.”

Over 250 delegates attended the ‘Breastfeeding: making a difference’ conference at the King’s Hall. More information on breastfeeding can be found by visiting www.breastfedbabies.org

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Notes to the Editor:
There will be a media facility during the conference on Tuesday 21 October 2008 between 11.00 – 11.30am when Gabrielle Palmer, Janet Calvert, HPA, and a number of other speakers will be available for interview.

More details on the conference can be found at:
www.healthpromotionagency.org.uk/work/Training/courses/pdfs/breastfeedflyer.pdf

For media enquiries contact:
The HPA Press Office on Tel: 028 9031 1611.

¹ WHO. Infant and young child nutrition. Global strategy on infant and young child feeding. In: Fifty Fifth World Health Assembly; 2002.