One in four find breastfeeding in public a discomfort

ALMOST one in four new mothers stop breastfeeding because they are uncomfortable about feeding their child in public.

Just over half of mothers are putting their child to the breast after birth but almost one third said infant feeding was not discussed with them during their pregnancy, a study reveals.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) published the study at the start of National Breastfeeding Week.

They are distributing a series of leaflets and resources to give expectant women more information and support.

The study found that just 42% of mothers were exclusively breastfeeding their child leaving hospital, a figure that compares poorly with other European countries.

The breastfeeding rate in Britain is 78%; Norway, 99%; Denmark 98%; Italy 91%; Spain 84% and France 69%.

The most common reasons given for discontinuing breastfeeding early were incompatibility with lifestyle (25%), perceived insufficient milk supply (20%) or lack of facilities/discomfort with feeding in public (17%).

The HSE has redesigned its breastfeeding website at www.breastfeeding.ie where fact sheets can be downloaded.