Almost 20% rise in proportion of three-month-old babies still being breastfed, HSE data shows

Kelsie O’Mahony and her daughter Halle, aged 14 months, from West Cork ahead of National Breastfeeding Week 2024. Pictures: Gerard McCarthy 

There has been a 18.6% increase since 2015 in the proportion of three-month-old babies still being breastfed, new data from the HSE shows.

One West Cork mother told how support from a public health nurse and local breastfeeding group helped with breastfeeding her daughter, Halle.

Kelsie O’Mahony, living in Schull, needed help overcoming challenges from persistent blocked ducts and mastitis.

“I am very grateful for the expert help and advice from my local public health nurse, Sheila, in getting through the persistent issues I had with blocked ducts on my right breast in particular with breastfeeding Halle,” she said.

“I wouldn’t have been able to breastfeed for eight weeks, let alone exclusively breastfeeding Halle for eight months, without the constant support from the breastfeeding group and help from Sheila.” 

 Kelsie O’Mahony and her daughter Halle with Sheila Lucey, HSE Infant Feeding Specialist in West Cork.

Nurse and infant feeding specialist, Sheila Lucey called on new mothers to find their local community breastfeeding group before giving birth. This can help with preparation, she said.

The Breastfeeding Action Plan Progress Report (2016-2023), published on Wednesday ahead of National Breastfeeding Week, also highlights other changes.

The number of dedicated infant feeding specialists has increased from 15 in 2017 to 59. There are now 215 support groups. Some 22,000 breastfeeding questions have been answered on HSE website mychild.ie since 2016.

Laura McHugh, HSE National Breastfeeding Coordinator welcomed this. “Despite challenges, we have seen increased supports for breastfeeding mothers in hospitals and the community as well as the upward trend of breastfeeding rates,” she said.

However she added: “We know there is a lot more work to be done to ensure every family is supported to have the best possible infant feeding journey, every step of the way.” 

Feedback from parents helped lead to a new education programme being set up for midwives and public health nurses on infant feeding, she said.

Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Colm Burke said increasing numbers of mothers opting for breastfeeding is “very positive” to see.

“We all have a role to play to promote breastfeeding; within our communities, in public services, in the workplace, along with the invaluable support of volunteer breastfeeding groups and dedicated staff in the health service,” he said.