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Every year we celebrate World Breastfeeding Week from 1-7 August to raise awareness about the issues around breastfeeding. This year's theme ‘Closing the Gap: Support for All’ focuses on how families, societies, communities and health workers can support breastfeeding. #breastfeedingsupportforall

Breastfeeding is more than just food

• It supports loving relationships and supports baby brain development
• It provides protection for mothers against breast & ovarian cancer, osteoporosis & heart disease
• It also protects babies from gastroenteritis, respiratory infections, allergies, obesity, diabetes and cot death
• It also provides huge cost savings to the NHS – moderate increases in breastfeeding would correlate to savings annually of £50 million in the UK, with tens of thousands fewer hospital admissions and GP consultations (UNICEF 2012). 

Although over 8 out of 10 mothers in the UK start breastfeeding, more than 6 out of 10 then stop before they want to, citing lack of support as a common factor (McAndrew et al 2012).

Women living in more deprived areas or from under-served communities are even less likely to access the information and support they want and need (BFN 2024). 

Despite this knowledge, the UK has some of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world. 

• There is an entrenched bottle-feeding culture in the UK and the formula industry spends billions each year influencing parents on what to feed their babies
• Breastfeeding women need a supportive, enabling environment and all babies whether breast or formula fed need to be protected from harmful commercial interest
• Choices on how to feed should be made based on full and impartial information rather than misleading, inaccurate, or bias marketing claims
• The more expensive formula companies claim their product is better, however, by law are nutritionally no better than cheaper brands
• Infant formula is an essential and irreplaceable food source for babies under one who are not fully breastfed, it should be affordable for all. The government must make a long-term investment so that  all   families who need it can access the high quality, accurate infant feeding information and support they need (BFN 2024)
• We need to change the conversation around breastfeeding; it is time to stop laying the blame for the UK’s low breastfeeding rates in the laps of individual women and instead acknowledge that this is a public health imperative for which government, policy makers, communities and families all share responsibility (UNICEF 2016).

• Hertfordshire’s health visiting team are also UNICEF Baby Friendly Gold accredited.
• The breastfeeding team consists of a Baby friendly guardian, an operational manager, two Infant feeding coordinators, a breastfeeding specialist health visitor. 
• Each team has a breastfeeding champion health visitor and Infant feeding support worker.
• Additionally all-clinical staff are trained to BFI level 3 which enables all to provide support and guidance to mothers with breastfeeding and safe formula feeding.
• We work closely with our Family Support Service, and we (infant Feeding Coordinators) provide level 1-3 training for their staff.
• We received feeding referrals from GPs, FSS, midwives, dietitians, and other services.
• Each day our health visiting team provide support to clients with breast feeding during routine mandated contacts.
• Additionally, we provide specialist breastfeeding clinics, for more complicated feeding concerns, in all areas 1-2 times per week.

The health visiting team have been so supportive towards myself and my daughter on my breastfeeding journey. Their advice and guidance has been invaluable and I don't think I would have continued feeding without this support. Thank you so much.

I recently have met one of my friends, who also has become a first time mum, and is struggling with breastfeeding. Unfortunately, not all mums in the UK are receiving all the support and care they need. I wish your team could be an example across the country and wish you all the best. Thank you.

I have been visited by my health visitor for various reasons surrounding breastfeeding. Her help has been so valuable, and I honestly don't think I would have got through the last few weeks without her. She is extremely knowledgeable and understanding. I hope the NHS continue to offer this service because is very much needed and valued. Thank you. 

• BFN 2024. World breastfeeding week — Closing the Gap 2014.
• CMA
• McAndrew F, Thompson J, Fellows L, Large A, Speed M, Renfrew MJ (2012) Infant Feeding Survey 2010, Health and Social Care Information Centre
• Victoria, CG., Bahl, B., Barros AJD., Franca GVA., Horton S., Krasevee J., Murch S., Sankar MJ., Walker N., Rollins NC. 2016.  Breastfeeding in the 21^st century: epidemiology, mechanisms and lifelong effect. The Lancet 387 (10017) 475-490
• UNICEF 2012 — Preventing disease and saving resources. Contribution of increasing breastfeeding rates in the UK.
• UNICEF 2016 — Call to action on infant feeding in the UK.