Breastfeeding rates up but North/South gap widens

Breastfeeding rates in Ireland are increasing steadily, but the gap between North and South is getting wider.

A new all-island report from the Institute of Public Health in Ireland also found breastfeeding rates in both jurisdictions decline steeply in the early weeks after birth.

IPH director of policy Helen McAvoy said rates of starting breastfeeding had increased in the last 10 years.