About Breastfeeding
 Breastfeeding is the natural way to feed babies. Breastfeeding creates a special bond between mothers and babies, a relationship unique to mother and child.
Breastfeeding has many health benefits for both the mother and child. For the mother, breastfeeding can help prevent and reduce symptoms of post natal depression and may protect from pre-menopausal breast cancer and osteoporosis. For the child, there are a wide range of health benefits including, reduced rate of infections, some childhood cancers, obesity and juvenile diabetes.
See our report Benefits of Breastfeeding for more details and references.
There are other benefits to breastfeeding:
- Breastfeeding is economical. It is estimated that there is a saving of about $1400 per year compared to purchasing formula.
- Breastfeeding is good for the environment. It produces no waste and requires no packaging.
- Breastfeeding is convenient. It needs no preparation and comes out at the right temperature. Breastfeeding mothers who need to be away from their babies can express their breast milk for a carer to feed their babies.
How many mums in Tasmania breastfeed?
Breastfeeding initiation
In Tasmania around 80 per cent of women leave hospital breastfeeding, or intending to breastfeed. While these initiation (start-up) rates are quite good compared to other countries, they do fall short of Australia’s target of 90 per cent of women leaving hospital breastfeeding. 
Graph 1 – Percentage of newborn babies being breastfeed on discharge from hospital. Source: Council of Obstetric & Paediatric Mortality and Morbidity, Annual Report 2005
* Note: Prior to 2005 collected as, breastfeeding yes/no; and 2005+collected as intending to breastfeed yes/no/unsure
Breastfeeding duration
Many women stop breastfeeding in the period shortly after discharge from hospital and in the following months.
In Tasmania, during 2006, the number of women still breastfeeding (at least partially) at six months was estimated to be 52 per cent. This is based on data collected by the Child Health and Parenting Service (CHAPS), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). 
Graph 2 – Percentage still breastfeeding at 6 months in Tasmania (exclusive, predominant or complementary feeding)
Note: Limitations:
- The results are potentially biased as only two thirds to three quarters of babies attend a six month visit with CHAPS; non-breastfeeding mothers may be less likely to attend routine checks.
- Breastfeeding status is recorded at the time of visit which may not exactly coincide with six months of age. Therefore variation exists in the age at which breastfeeding status is recorded.
- Data collection is paper based with the potential for translation errors and record loss.
Data from the Child Health and Parenting Service (CHAPS) over the past ten years consistently suggests that only around 50 per cent of infants were still being breastfed when they presented for their six month check. This is well below the recommendation that 80 per cent of infants are still breastfed at six months of age.
Tasmanian statistics for breastfeeding are consistent with the national average. Although when compared on a state-by-state basis Tasmanian breastfeeding rates are marginally lower than all other states and territories.1
National Breastfeeding Recommendations
The National Health and Medical Research Council make the following recommendations in relation to breastfeeding objectives for Australia.2
- Encourage, support and promote exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. An initiation rate in excess of 90 per cent and 80 per cent of infants being breastfed at the age of six months.
- It is further recommended that mothers then continue breastfeeding until 12 months of age - and beyond if both mother and infant wish.
Tasmanian statistics for breastfeeding are consistent with the national average. Although when compared on a state-by-state Why aren't mums breastfeeding for longer?
(Acknowledgement to Central Coast NSW Breastfeeding Taskforce for this summary)
- We live in a culture where breastfeeding is undervalued and where alternative infant foods are widely promoted. Mothers commonly have little or no information about breastfeeding, little contact with women who successfully breastfeed and, often gain little support from close family and friends.
- More mothers are returning to the workforce while their infants are young, and too little assistance is available to help them to continue breastfeeding. This includes lack of on-site childcare, no nursing breaks for mothers or appropriate places to express and store breast milk. There are often no breastfeeding policies, paid maternity leave, or flexible working arrangements.
- Lack of knowledge, negative attitudes and beliefs (of mothers, their partners, other support people, health professionals and the general public) towards breastfeeding.
- Large advertising budgets for the promotion of infant formulas.
- Lack of available facilities for breastfeeding in public places and negative attitudes of some proprietors of service establishments and businesses towards breastfeeding.
- Negative attitudes of some members of the community towards women breastfeeding in public. Surveys have shown that older people are less accepting of this practice than younger people.
- Inappropriate advice, poor diagnosis and management of common breastfeeding problems by some health practitioner.
1 Donath S and Amir, LH. Rates pf breastfeeding inAustralia by State and socio-economic status: Evidence from the 1995 National Health Survey. J. Paediatr. Child Health. 2000;36: 164-168.
2 Bins C and Davidson G. Infant Feeding Guidelines for Health Workers In Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents. Canberra: NHMRC, 2003. p287-288
 |
Mila at 20 minutes old, already knows what to do. |
The Vital First Hour – Importance of skin to skin contact between a mother and baby.
The theme of this year’s Breastfeeding Awareness Week is called the Vital First Hour and highlights the importance of allowing uninterrupted skin to skin contact between a mother and baby in at least the first hour after birth.
Not only it is important for successful breastfeeding it also has many health benefits for the baby.
Download this document to find out more.
(Why is skin to skin important.pdf)
|
