Plus, take a look back at articles discussing the role of maternity professionals in supporting breastfeeding that have featured in past editions of MIDIRS Midwifery Digest:
‘The Breastfeeding Solution Circle: supporting breastfeeding mothers to make successful, long term breastfeeding a reality’ Sioned Hilton (December 2010)
In recent years there has been a major push to position breastfeeding as the norm for infant feeding – influencing a shift from initiating with infant formula to putting the baby to the breast in the first instance (Bolling et al 2007). In the UK, despite the fact our initiation rate remains high, with an average of 70% of mothers breastfeeding in the early days, this figure dramatically declines following the first two week period. Sadly, only 25% of mothers continue to exclusively breastfeed to the recommended six months (Bolling et al 2007). This is a staggering drop and one which calls for further understanding if we are to make improvements. The Breastfeeding Solution Circle supports breastfeeding mothers from the moment of conception through to weaning. The continued research underpins our current knowledge and the development of a range of products to support the continuation of breastfeeding from the perspective of the mother and the baby. Expertise, excellence and innovation are at the very core of the solution circle and capture the work of lactation experts and researchers worldwide.
‘Supporting breastfeeding: it takes a whole community’ Susan Way, Alison Taylor, Joyce Miller (December 2015)
In collaboration with the Anglo European Chiropractic College (AECC), the Faculty of Health and Social Services at Bournemouth University hosted a conference in July 2015 to raise awareness of the Joint Chiropractic, Midwifery Newborn Feeding Clinic. The interprofessional approach to facilitating a student-led, newborn infant feeding clinic is an innovative and unique opportunity to provide a positive learning environment for students as well as improve sustained breastfeeding rates for women; a current public health challenge. Learning from skilled, qualified practitioners in a real time practice environment has the ability to enrich the student educational experience. It was felt that a one day interprofessional conference to share good practice from the clinic and listen to the views of women and students would provide a springboard to ensure the clinic continued to meet the needs of those using the facilities.
‘Breastfeeding is a public health priority. Why are we so bad at it?’ Melody Rich (June 2023)
The promotion of breastfeeding initiation and continuation is a global public health priority identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) which set, at the 56th World Health Assembly in 2012, a target to ‘increase the rate of exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months up to at least 50%’ (Victoria et al 2016:486). The tools in use to help achieve this goal include the UNICEF Baby-Friendly Initiative: an international accreditation programme promoting practices that support breastfeeding through a number of channels, including clinical practice, policy development, and campaigning for social and commercial change. Currently 91 per cent of United Kingdom (UK) maternity units have achieved or are working towards Baby-Friendly accreditation (UNICEF 2018a). One of the effects upon UK policy has been the incorporation of monitoring breastfeeding as a specific indicator of health improvement within the Public Health Outcomes Framework. This requires local authorities to prioritise breastfeeding support locally with the aim of increasing breastfeeding initiation and prevalence (Public Health England 2022).
To read these papers in full, plus hundreds more midwifery-related articles, subscribe to MIDIRS and access our full MIC database, as well as our quarterly Digest.
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