What does the London Eye, the Statue of Liberty and Mount Vesuvius all have in common? …Breastfeeding

96% of mums say they should be free to breastfeed anywhere; reveals NHS Choices survey

Barriers to breastfeeding in public are breaking down and mums are breastfeeding any time, any place and anywhere, according to a survey from NHS Choices. Be it the Eiffel Tower, the Sydney Opera house or Disneyland, 96 per cent of mums said that they breastfeed in public. Almost all (99%) of the mums surveyed agree that they should feel free to breastfeed anywhere; but 16 per cent experienced negative reactions from people when they did.

Many women cited the main cause for discomfort when breastfeeding in public as; being stared at, tutted at and rude remarks. In more extreme instances, mothers were told to leave the venue. Despite this, the survey showed that 93 per cent of all mums enjoyed breastfeeding.

Ruthie Pearlman, an NCT breastfeeding counsellor and mother of eight, commented: “It is wonderful that women are feeling more confident to breastfeed in public. One of the great things about breastfeeding is that you can do it anytime and any place. As the results from the NHS Choices survey shows, wherever mum and baby go, which could be anywhere from the Empire State building to the Eiffel Tower, a feed is always possible.

“However, being confident about breastfeeding is something that can sometimes take a bit of time and help. That’s why a resource like NHS Choices www.nhs.uk/breastfeeding with its videos and advice is a great place for parents to go to get support instantly. If problems persist though, then mums should talk to a trained breastfeeding counsellor, health visitor, midwife or their GP.”

Silva Panattoni, mother of Harry, six months from London said: “
“Some mums find breastfeeding hard at first but I would encourage them to persevere because it gets easier. I decided to breastfeed because I knew about the positive benefits for both of us. I was looking forward to the special closeness with my baby and getting into shape. Plus, it saves money, saves time and I know Harry’s milk is pure, always the right temperature and ready whenever he wants a feed.” The survey was carried out to mark the launch of a new breastfeeding support package of videos, self-help guides and advice on NHS Choices. The new package can be found at www.nhs.uk/breastfeeding.

Top 10 landmarks for breastfeeding:

• The Eiffel Tower
• The Statue of Liberty
• The Empire State Building
• The London Eye
• Mount Vesuvius
• Sugar Loaf Mountain
• Disneyworld
• Buckingham Palace
• Sydney Opera House
• Alcatraz

Additional results from the survey 96% felt that breastfeeding was underrepresented in the media

NHS Choices at www.nhs.uk is the most popular online source of health information in the UK, attracting more than 9m visits per month. The website has the most comprehensive A-Z of health conditions available, advice on healthy living, guides to local health services, and a daily analysis of the science behind the medical headlines. NHS BabyLifeCheck is a free online service for parents and carers of babies aged five to eight months that helps to keep babies healthy, happy and safe. After completing a simple questionnaire, users receive personal results and advice. Other features include goal-setting, interactive games, videos and links to further support. Topics covered include: feeding, playing and talking, healthy teeth, being a parent, immunisations, safety and sleep. www.nhs.uk/babylifecheck.