Why breastfeeding is the best
4:00pm Friday 27th February 2009
By Lynne Milford »
FOR Monica Parsons, choosing to breastfeed her first child was not a difficult decision.
Now a mother-of-four, Monica wants to use her experiences to encourage other mums to feed their babies naturally.
She said: “I decided to breastfeed because my mum did it, and her mum did it before her, so it must be hereditary.”
The 38-year-old, from Clacton, was one of six mums chosen by NHS North East Essex to appear in an advertising campaign to promote breastfeeding.
The aim of the campaign is to show women just how easy it can be to breastfeed and to dispel the myths and embarrassment of doing it in public.
Monica, whose four children are Callum, 14, Ewan, six, Kyle, four, and Isabella, three months, said: “I got involved with the campaign because I go to a baby group and the midwife suggested I give it a try.
“I think there’s a stigma attached to breastfeeding, which suggests you have to be a certain type of person to do it. But really, any woman can do it.
“People don’t realise the health benefits there are for the mother, as well as the baby.
“A lot of it is about confidence, but we want to help women see they can do it, too.”
Krishna Ramkhelawon, assistant director of public health at NHS North East Essex, is in charge of the advertising campaign.
He said: “We know the breastfeeding rate in this area is only about 70 per cent, which isn’t great. So, we need to do something to tackle that.
“It’s also about sustaining breastfeeding. Many women only do it for about six to eight weeks, but we’re following guidelines which says it should be done for up to six months.
“We want to show mothers breast milk is much better for their babies, because it will help to prevent infections, as well as guarding against obesity.”
He added NHS North East Essex was also working on a survey of local mothers, as well as talking to health visitors and midwives to find out why women are put off breastfeeding.
The advert will be shown in local cinemas and photographs will be used to create posters, which can be used around the region.
Source
http://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/4158143.Why_breastfeeding_is_the_best/
I total agree that breast feeding should be encouraged and promoted.
I myself breast fed many years ago, and my niece also chose to breast feed her first child for 9months and is now breast feeding her newborn. My sister and I suggested that she does local talk for young mums within her local community, but she declined, such a shame as she is herself only 24.
I think the main reason for new mums not to breast feed is the embarrassment and time, embarrassment is hard to overcome but you can cover up with a blanket whilst feeding and time meaning that others can feed the baby or many are wanting to get baby into a routine as they may be going back to work.
On another note, Anti – natal clinics and hospitals need to play a role in encouraging and support mums who decide to breast feed…
good luck with your campaign
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