Parenting Forums

Posted: 27 September 2006 at 9:03pm | IP Logged

I have to do a project for college and as I may go on to study Nutrition in the future, I thought breastfeeding might be a good one - plus, we have to do a questionnaire and I am thinking this might be an easy one to do!

I want to investigate why the breastfeeding rates in the UK are so low -

I know that a few of you are members of breastfeeding groups and so I wondered if anyone could point me in the right direction for some good sources of info e.g. websites, organisations etc.

If anyone has any printed material that they wouldn't mind sending me, I would really appreciate it, and I will obviously pay the postage for that...please PM me if this is the case..

I'm not allowed to get all my info from the internet so if anyone knows of any good books or magazine articles on the subject, I would be very grateful...

Many thanks!  Greedy, x

Posted: 28 September 2006 at 8:44pm | IP Logged

I am sure if you pm Lynie she will point you in the right direction

Sorry I haven't got any info for you chick - I only lasted a few weeks with Ellis

Hope you get the info you need

xxxxx

Posted: 28 September 2006 at 8:51pm | IP Logged

I will have a look in my old pregnancy mags as we kept most of them and have a nose.  If i find anything i will let you know.

Goodluck hun and hope u get some info soon x

Posted: 28 September 2006 at 9:50pm | IP Logged

ive not got any

but ill ask my nct m8s

when i see them!

Posted: 29 September 2006 at 12:29pm | IP Logged

http://www.abm.me.uk/policies.htm

This is quite a good study into why breastfeeding rates might be low in the UK.  It takes into account that low income families are provided with milk tokens for formula fed babies whilst breastfeeding mothers do not receive the same support.  It's also fairly well referenced so might help you find further reading on the subject.

I would guess the other thing to consider is the fact that a lot of mothers return to work before the baby is 6mnths old (due to financial commitments) and most companies in the UK are not supportive of breastfeeding mothers even though the government have put legislation in place to support working mothers who breast feed.

Another aspect that might be good to consider is body image in the UK.  So much is focused on how we should look and what our bodies are for that we have lost the natural use for it.  I was astounded and still am by women that want to stop breastfeeding quickly because they "want their body back".  The only down side that I can really think of is not being able to ware a dress, which doesn't really bother me.  My eldest daughter who has witnessed her sister and brother being breastfed thinks it's horrid and can't imagine herself ever doing it.  It's more about how she views her body though than what is best for her babies.  Her body is something to be toned and tamed into what society thinks is the norm and what is shown in magasines and on the tv.  No soaps portray breastfeeding mothers.  The only soap that did portray it shortly was Eastenders recently and they made it look like the most horrid thing to do ever and they didn't even highlight that Honey was trying to breastfeed a Down Syndrome baby which can carry it's own problems in sucking, etc.

I have a good book that looks at the history of parenting it's not just about breastfeeding but looks at parenting in different cultures through time.  If it is useful to you I would be happy to lend it to you.  It is called "Our babies ourselves" by Meredith small.  It's an interesting read if nothing else. hth