Prioritise Better Breastfeeding Education & Support Across The United Kingdom
The Issue
THE CAMPAIGN:
I’d like to see more education and encouragement given to pregnant women surrounding breastfeeding; particularly the challenges that come with it and how to overcome them. I feel that this candid approach would help mothers to feel more confident in breastfeeding, making them prepared for every eventuality and less likely to give up at the first hurdle.
The UK has some of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world. As many as 8 in 10 mothers stop breastfeeding before they want to. Almost 68% of women in the UK start breastfeeding but only 17% continue to three months with just 1% making it to the 6 month milestone.
There are huge benefits to breastfeeding that should be explored in more detail during pregnancy, but there are also challenges that many mothers face that should be addressed. Not everyone gets off to a great start, and this can easily lead to a mother giving up breastfeeding prematurely.
Infections, latching difficulties and food allergies are amongst the many issues that I faced with my children; all of which I was not prepared for nor supported through by healthcare professionals. In order to supply expectant mothers with this information, the education must start with doctors, nurses, midwives and other healthcare professionals.
THE STATISTICS:
Click here to read the official launch blog post!
MY STORY:
My own breastfeeding journey is what has prompted me to call for better support, resources and access to information. When my baby developed allergies to cows milk and soya whilst being exclusively breastfed I felt helpless, with healthcare professionals telling me conflicting information at every turn. La Leche League were an invaluable resource for me, providing comprehensive information and help during such a difficult time. Walking into the A&E department with a print out of their website is what finally led to my baby’s diagnosis. If I’d known what to look out for, my little boy would not have had to suffer in pain like he did.
Through La Leche League, I learned that colostrum, or first milk, is rich in antibodies, particularly secretory IgA (SIgA), which provide a protective coating inside a baby’s intestines. Harvesting colostrum is not promoted enough by midwives during the antenatal phase. This could be the gateway conversation into comprehensive breastfeeding education. Being given a print out to take home and read is not enough.
As the milk transitions into its mature phase it is continuing to provide protection, helping to prevent potential allergens from reaching a baby’s blood. Exclusive breastfeeding is generally believed to help to protect from allergies, but this doesn’t mean they can’t still occur.
What I didn’t know is that any immediate family member such as siblings or parents has an allergy, eczema, hay fever or asthma, it makes it more likely that the baby could develop allergies. I have all of these conditions, and still it was not flagged up that I may come across the issue of delayed or immediate allergies during my breastfeeding journey. If I’d have been informed of this during pregnancy, perhaps the outcome may have been different.
During the initial phases of getting my second born son diagnosed after two very serious delayed allergic reactions, I was faced with a number of pushbacks from nurses and doctors. Many of them assured me that allergies through breast milk are impossible.
As a mother of two children with cows milk protein allergies, I can tell you that is absolutely false. Looking back with hindsight, my first born was also reacting from my breast milk. He had his first serious allergic reaction upon moving him to formula. If I’d have had the knowledge to recognise signs of allergy in a breastfed baby, I would have never moved him to a cows milk formula.
The simple solution for many of the healthcare professionals I came across was to stop breastfeeding and move to a prescribed formula. Armed with the knowledge of the benefits of breast milk I was determined to continue, however for some mothers it is this kind of misinformation that hinders their progress, possibly ends their breastfeeding journey, and in turn, contributes the UK’s low breastfeeding rates.
Sign the petition and let your voice be heard! Let’s improve the education and resources available for mothers, their families and their support networks.
If you’d like to share your motherhood journey for my blog, my inbox is open. Let’s connect.
—
@bethspageantjourney on Instagram
http://motherfully.wordpress.com
motherfully@gmail.com
Petition Closed
The Issue
THE CAMPAIGN:
I’d like to see more education and encouragement given to pregnant women surrounding breastfeeding; particularly the challenges that come with it and how to overcome them. I feel that this candid approach would help mothers to feel more confident in breastfeeding, making them prepared for every eventuality and less likely to give up at the first hurdle.
The UK has some of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world. As many as 8 in 10 mothers stop breastfeeding before they want to. Almost 68% of women in the UK start breastfeeding but only 17% continue to three months with just 1% making it to the 6 month milestone.
There are huge benefits to breastfeeding that should be explored in more detail during pregnancy, but there are also challenges that many mothers face that should be addressed. Not everyone gets off to a great start, and this can easily lead to a mother giving up breastfeeding prematurely.
Infections, latching difficulties and food allergies are amongst the many issues that I faced with my children; all of which I was not prepared for nor supported through by healthcare professionals. In order to supply expectant mothers with this information, the education must start with doctors, nurses, midwives and other healthcare professionals.
THE STATISTICS:
Click here to read the official launch blog post!
MY STORY:
My own breastfeeding journey is what has prompted me to call for better support, resources and access to information. When my baby developed allergies to cows milk and soya whilst being exclusively breastfed I felt helpless, with healthcare professionals telling me conflicting information at every turn. La Leche League were an invaluable resource for me, providing comprehensive information and help during such a difficult time. Walking into the A&E department with a print out of their website is what finally led to my baby’s diagnosis. If I’d known what to look out for, my little boy would not have had to suffer in pain like he did.
Through La Leche League, I learned that colostrum, or first milk, is rich in antibodies, particularly secretory IgA (SIgA), which provide a protective coating inside a baby’s intestines. Harvesting colostrum is not promoted enough by midwives during the antenatal phase. This could be the gateway conversation into comprehensive breastfeeding education. Being given a print out to take home and read is not enough.
As the milk transitions into its mature phase it is continuing to provide protection, helping to prevent potential allergens from reaching a baby’s blood. Exclusive breastfeeding is generally believed to help to protect from allergies, but this doesn’t mean they can’t still occur.
What I didn’t know is that any immediate family member such as siblings or parents has an allergy, eczema, hay fever or asthma, it makes it more likely that the baby could develop allergies. I have all of these conditions, and still it was not flagged up that I may come across the issue of delayed or immediate allergies during my breastfeeding journey. If I’d have been informed of this during pregnancy, perhaps the outcome may have been different.
During the initial phases of getting my second born son diagnosed after two very serious delayed allergic reactions, I was faced with a number of pushbacks from nurses and doctors. Many of them assured me that allergies through breast milk are impossible.
As a mother of two children with cows milk protein allergies, I can tell you that is absolutely false. Looking back with hindsight, my first born was also reacting from my breast milk. He had his first serious allergic reaction upon moving him to formula. If I’d have had the knowledge to recognise signs of allergy in a breastfed baby, I would have never moved him to a cows milk formula.
The simple solution for many of the healthcare professionals I came across was to stop breastfeeding and move to a prescribed formula. Armed with the knowledge of the benefits of breast milk I was determined to continue, however for some mothers it is this kind of misinformation that hinders their progress, possibly ends their breastfeeding journey, and in turn, contributes the UK’s low breastfeeding rates.
Sign the petition and let your voice be heard! Let’s improve the education and resources available for mothers, their families and their support networks.
If you’d like to share your motherhood journey for my blog, my inbox is open. Let’s connect.
—
@bethspageantjourney on Instagram
http://motherfully.wordpress.com
motherfully@gmail.com
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Petition created on 28 May 2023