As a student midwife, breastfeeding is something that we speak about often, from the booking appointment to postnatal appointments to support women who wish to breastfeed their babies. In the UK, 80% of women initiate breastfeeding, but rates of exclusive breastfeedinging are 55% at 6 weeks, and 1% by the time the baby is 6 months old (Fox et al, 2015). The UK has some of the worst breastfeeding rates in the world, so what is it that causes this massive drop off? One aspect that can have a huge impact on the success of a feeding relationship is, quite simply, the right support (Fox et al, 2015).
As a mother, I breastfed both of my children until they were at least two. I'll be honest, I found breastfeeding very challenging. I dealt with problems of tongue-tie, mastitis, nursing strikes, teething and weaning, and it was the support of others, both in real life and online, that helped me work through these issues. As a teenager, I had friends who had breastfed their children, and who spoke to me about feeding. When I was pregnant, I read blogs and attended a local mother-and-baby group, where I found a small support network of other mums who had children of a similar age. This support was vital to my breastfeeding journey.
During this year's International Breastfeeding Week, I noticed on social media that funding for support for breastfeeding in Kent was to be withdrawn (Elvin, 2017), and that a breastfeeding support service in Blackpool had also been cut (Stocks, 2017). While these stories may not be headline-worthy, this loss of support can be devastating for a woman who is experiencing feeding problems (Stevenson, 2016).
Breastfeeding is a skill that needs to be learned by both mum and baby—you would hardly drive a car without having lessons, or having someone more experienced guiding you from the passenger seat. Additionally, it is a relationship and skill that evolves: a mum feeding a newborn will not face the same issues as the mum who is feeding a 9-month-old teething baby (biting, anyone?). While a midwife may not be the one advising a parent on teething issues, it is the support groups that we refer women to that will. It is these communities that spring up around breastfeeding that help women succeed in their journeys. Many women feel that they stopped breastfeeding prematurely, and wish that they succeeded in their journeys and were still feeding their children (Fox et al, 2015).
While midwives are important in the initiation of breastfeeding, it is the support of lactation consultants and other mums that is hugely valuable to the continuation of the breastfeeding relationship. Midwives' time is hugely pressed, especially during the chronic shortage of midwives. As a parent and future midwife, it is frustrating to see that this vital means of support is at risk of being cut. The health benefits of breastfeeding are widely stated (National Childbirth Trust, 2011), and women and children worldwide are being failed by lack of breastfeeding support (World Health Organization, 2017). It is perplexing that in the UK, we do not consider breastfeeding important enough to warrant continued investment and support.