Parent-led advocacy group, Bainne Beathe, are calling for immediate government action for maternal and infant health after a recent study found a lack of support for breastfeeding mums in Ireland.
The study entitled ‘Breastfeeding support in Ireland: a national study’, which is based on the experiences of 5,500 women, was presented to the Irish Women’s Parliamentary Caucus today, October 19, by Bainne Beathe.
Bainne Beathe wants to see more support for women and families who have been let down by this inadequate and inaccessible breastfeeding support.
The under-resourced maternity system, lack of adequate knowledge, time, and support from health care professionals during the establishment of breastfeeding are all topics explored in this research carried out in collaboration with Technological University Dublin.
Participants of the survey revealed that formula was commonly suggested instead of specialised breastfeeding support when it came to challenges that occurred while breastfeeding.
Some other findings from the research saw that 23% of participants were encouraged to use formula, even though they didn’t want to. Before giving birth, 80% of women intended to exclusively breastfeed, but one month after birth, 52% were breastfeeding exclusively.
62.3% of mums in Ireland initiate breastfeeding in maternity hospitals, compared to 90% in Australia, 81% in the UK and 79% in the United States.
Recent data found that less than 6% of babies in Ireland are exclusively breastfed up to 6 months, which is very far off the WHO global target for 2030 of at least 70% of babies to be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of their lives.
Breastfeeding provides a healthy, practical and sustainable source of nutrition, as well as benefiting a mum’s health and wellbeing- just some of the reasons why The Department of Health and WHO recommended exclusively breastfeeding for the first 6 months of a baby’s life.
After 6 months, it is recommended for mums to continue breastfeeding as well as introducing suitably nutritious and safe complimentary foods until a child is two years old.
Bainne Beath are calling on the government to improve breastfeeding support services including:
- Adequate staffing levels in maternity units.
- Individual breastfeeding support from birth until breastfeeding is fully established.
- A widening in the range of professions in which lactation consultants can be recruited to the HSE.
- Dedicated funding for training of International Board Certified Lactation Consultants.
- Regular and up-to-date breastfeeding training for healthcare professionals.
- Equal and free access to specialised breastfeeding-related clinical consultations (eg. tongue tie assessment/ correction).
- Breastfeeding-friendly environments across community and acute health care settings.
- Review of the HSE Breastfeeding Action Plan 2016-2022 based on current national and international evidence in consultation with a multi-stakeholder, cross-departmental working group.
Dr Liz O’Sullivan, a Lecturer in Nutrition at TU Dublin said, “This study suggests the biggest drop off in exclusive breastfeeding happened in the first week of the child’s life. Families are being let down by lack of access to expert help at the right time”.
“Our participants reported that formula was regularly offered as a solution to breastfeeding problems when what they actually wanted was help with breastfeeding. We know that skilled, timely breastfeeding support is associated with successful breastfeeding, so we should be providing this.”
The founder of Bainne Beathe, Deborah Byrne, also made a statement saying, “We want Ireland to reach a place where nobody's wish and right to breastfeed is taken away from them because of under-resourcing, under-funding or a lack of training”.
“As a society we have a collective responsibility to ensure that all receive the best possible support during pregnancy and post-birth so that they can make informed decisions on breastfeeding. Telling women they should breastfeed antenatally and then not supporting them to do so postnatally is unethical and results in grief, guilt and trauma if breastfeeding doesn’t work out”.
She added, “Healthcare professionals and mothers want the same thing, to have the time to establish breastfeeding postnatally. It’s time for the government to help make that happen.”
