Better breastfeeding rates on the agenda

5 May 2008

Educating mothers about the importance of breastfeeding their babies is the focus of a Breastfeeding Summit to be held in Tamworth on Wednesday (7 May) as part of the celebrations of International Midwives Day.

More than 70 nurses, midwives, community group representatives and specialist staff from across the Hunter New England Health area will meet to discuss ways to boost the number of women who take up and continue the healthy practice, by locally implementing the NSW Health policy, Breastfeeding: Promotion, Protection and Support.

Director of Nursing and Midwifery Chris Kewley said the Summit was an important step in devising the best ways of informing parents about the benefits of breastfeeding. It’s also about letting them know where they can access information and guidance if they have trouble breastfeeding their child.

“We know that most NSW mothers – more than 90 per cent - begin to breastfeed after giving birth, but about half of all NSW mothers stop by the time their baby is about six months old,” Mr Kewley said.

“In Australia, it is recommended that as many infants as possible be exclusively breastfed until six months of age and ideally breastfed until the child turns one.

“The health, environmental and economic benefits of breastfeeding are well documented. There is solid evidence for the protective effects of breastfeeding against three classes of infectious disease in babies - gastrointestinal illnesses, respiratory tract infections and otitis media (middle ear infections). Breastfeeding also protects again the development of obesity and Type 2 diabetes later in life.”

Guest speaker for the day will be Dr Rebecca Glover, neonatologist at John Hunter Children’s Hospital, who will also give a specialised address about breastfeeding as a public health issue.

For information or guidance about breastfeeding parents can contact the Australian Breastfeeding Association on (02) 8853 4999 (NSW). Have a pen handy to take down the number of the on-call councillor available. You can also go to www.breastfeeding.asn.au . Breastfeeding guidance can also be given by your closest maternity unit, child and family health centre or your doctor.

Contact: Emma Gibbs

Phone: (02) 6767 7137 or 0428 114 767