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| Teach pupils about breastfeeding, say Royal College doctors | Teach pupils about breastfeeding, say Royal College doctors |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Schoolchildren should be taught about the importance of breastfeeding, doctors say. | Schoolchildren should be taught about the importance of breastfeeding, doctors say. |
| The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health says the UK has one of the lowest rates of the practice in Europe - with just a third of babies receiving breast milk at the age of six months. | The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health says the UK has one of the lowest rates of the practice in Europe - with just a third of babies receiving breast milk at the age of six months. |
| They argue breastfeeding in public is still "often stigmatised". | They argue breastfeeding in public is still "often stigmatised". |
| The Royal College recommends the subject is covered in personal, social and health education (PSHE) classes. | The Royal College recommends the subject is covered in personal, social and health education (PSHE) classes. |
| It advises that mothers should be encouraged and supported to breastfeed exclusively for up to six months, with solid food introduced from six months, ideally alongside breastfeeding. | It advises that mothers should be encouraged and supported to breastfeed exclusively for up to six months, with solid food introduced from six months, ideally alongside breastfeeding. |
| 'Yucky' | 'Yucky' |
| Professor Neena Modi, the Royal College's president, said too few babies were being breastfed and it was up to the government, families and schools to get the country out of a "blackspot". | Professor Neena Modi, the Royal College's president, said too few babies were being breastfed and it was up to the government, families and schools to get the country out of a "blackspot". |
| Children needed to understand more about breastfeeding, she said. | Children needed to understand more about breastfeeding, she said. |
| The first stage was to expose very young children to mothers, aunties and family friends doing it so it became normal and natural, she said. | The first stage was to expose very young children to mothers, aunties and family friends doing it so it became normal and natural, she said. |
| Then, schools should teach children about, for example, the evidence that breastfeeding was good for the health and why it could be difficult or easy, she added. | Then, schools should teach children about, for example, the evidence that breastfeeding was good for the health and why it could be difficult or easy, she added. |
| Both boys and girls should be in the lessons, as partners can do "an awful lot" to help by being supportive and involved, said Prof Modi. | Both boys and girls should be in the lessons, as partners can do "an awful lot" to help by being supportive and involved, said Prof Modi. |
| Currently PSHE is not a statutory part of schools' curriculums, although that will be consulted on this autumn. Schools which do teach the subject largely decide what they wish to teach. | Currently PSHE is not a statutory part of schools' curriculums, although that will be consulted on this autumn. Schools which do teach the subject largely decide what they wish to teach. |
| "When we asked groups of children and young people what they thought about breastfeeding, we were really surprised - and a little bit upset - to hear the word 'yucky' being used by them," Prof Modi said. | "When we asked groups of children and young people what they thought about breastfeeding, we were really surprised - and a little bit upset - to hear the word 'yucky' being used by them," Prof Modi said. |
| "Clearly the perception that we, as a society, are giving children, is not the perception we want them to be getting." | "Clearly the perception that we, as a society, are giving children, is not the perception we want them to be getting." |
| She added: "Regrettably the attitudes of a large part of society mean breastfeeding is not always encouraged; local support is patchy, advice is not always consistent and often overly dogmatic, support in the workplace not always conducive to continued breastfeeding. | She added: "Regrettably the attitudes of a large part of society mean breastfeeding is not always encouraged; local support is patchy, advice is not always consistent and often overly dogmatic, support in the workplace not always conducive to continued breastfeeding. |
| "And perhaps, most worryingly, breastfeeding in public is still often stigmatised. It is no wonder that for many mothers, there are too many barriers." | "And perhaps, most worryingly, breastfeeding in public is still often stigmatised. It is no wonder that for many mothers, there are too many barriers." |
| Anna Whitehouse, a parenting blogger on Mother Pukka, said she was not uncomfortable breastfeeding in public but could understand others who were. | Anna Whitehouse, a parenting blogger on Mother Pukka, said she was not uncomfortable breastfeeding in public but could understand others who were. |
| "That's not their fault," she said. "We're not educated that it's a normal thing - it's not in biology classes. | "That's not their fault," she said. "We're not educated that it's a normal thing - it's not in biology classes. |
| "Suddenly it's just a thing that you do, and people are expected to just go, 'Oh, that's normal.'" | "Suddenly it's just a thing that you do, and people are expected to just go, 'Oh, that's normal.'" |
| Your views | |
| Natalie Penrose told BBC News it was "an amazing idea to introduce children at school to the idea of breastfeeding". | |
| "I am still breastfeeding my 22-month-old daughter on demand and I would love to see this being the norm instead of something that is frowned upon. I can't imagine why more women aren't convinced to carry on." | |
| However, Helen Holmes, a teacher and parent, said there was "little point" telling mothers why they should breastfeed. | |
| "Health professionals need to understand that it's a small minority of women who actually choose to bottle feed and most switch to this because they haven't been given the best support. | |
| "It can be very difficult - stop pretending it isn't and support mothers with the practicalities." | |
| Fiona said she wasn't able to produce enough milk when her daughter was born. | |
| "I tried breastfeeding - of course I did - but the sheer pushiness and abrupt manners of breastfeeding experts who visited me in the cubicle put me off asking for help. | |
| Lorna Pedersen said women are already told they are "selfish, lazy or ignorant" if they are either unable to breastfeed, or make a different choice. | |
| "To make vulnerable women feel like they are failing at the very start of their parenting journey is not only despicable and cruel it is completely unnecessary." | |
| 'Overwhelmed and exhausted' | 'Overwhelmed and exhausted' |
| In a separate survey of 1,030 mothers of children under five, the most common reasons why mothers stopped breastfeeding were found to be: | In a separate survey of 1,030 mothers of children under five, the most common reasons why mothers stopped breastfeeding were found to be: |
| Nearly three-quarters agreed with the statement that there was too much emphasis on telling women why they should breastfeed, and not enough on supporting them to do it. | Nearly three-quarters agreed with the statement that there was too much emphasis on telling women why they should breastfeed, and not enough on supporting them to do it. |
| For those still breastfeeding at six weeks, face-to-face help from a healthcare professional or a breastfeeding counsellor was considered the most effective intervention. | For those still breastfeeding at six weeks, face-to-face help from a healthcare professional or a breastfeeding counsellor was considered the most effective intervention. |
| Justine Roberts, founder of Mumsnet which carried out the poll, said: "There's no sense in endlessly telling women that they must breastfeed, but letting them down when they have a baby in their arms. | Justine Roberts, founder of Mumsnet which carried out the poll, said: "There's no sense in endlessly telling women that they must breastfeed, but letting them down when they have a baby in their arms. |
| "Breastfeeding is a skill, and most mothers need support when they hit a problem, especially given that they are often shattered, sore and sleep-deprived. | "Breastfeeding is a skill, and most mothers need support when they hit a problem, especially given that they are often shattered, sore and sleep-deprived. |
| "The guilt, anger and sadness experienced by many mothers who switch from breastfeeding is palpable, and it's deeply unfair to leave so many feeling that they've failed." | "The guilt, anger and sadness experienced by many mothers who switch from breastfeeding is palpable, and it's deeply unfair to leave so many feeling that they've failed." |
| Other recommendations from the Royal College's paper released at the start of World Breastfeeding Week include: | Other recommendations from the Royal College's paper released at the start of World Breastfeeding Week include: |
| It also wants the government to reinstate the UK-wide Infant Feeding Survey, which was cancelled in 2015. | It also wants the government to reinstate the UK-wide Infant Feeding Survey, which was cancelled in 2015. |
| Only 34% of babies were receiving some breast milk at six months, compared with 49% in the US and 71% in Norway, according to medical journal The Lancet. At a year, this figure fell to 0.5%. | Only 34% of babies were receiving some breast milk at six months, compared with 49% in the US and 71% in Norway, according to medical journal The Lancet. At a year, this figure fell to 0.5%. |
| The Royal College points to Unicef research that concludes even moderate increases in breastfeeding could save the NHS up to £40m a year through fewer GP consultations and hospital admissions. | The Royal College points to Unicef research that concludes even moderate increases in breastfeeding could save the NHS up to £40m a year through fewer GP consultations and hospital admissions. |