Survey - Serious misunderstandings about breastfeeding

Posted By: News-Medical in Women's Health News
Published: Monday, 10-May-2004

"A survey published today by The UK Department of Health for National Breastfeeding Awareness Week (9 - 15 May) shows that serious misunderstandings may be stopping women, particularly young women, from breastfeeding. Although the benefits of breastfeeding are well known, the UK has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in Europe. Almost a third of women (29%) in England and Wales never try to breastfeed compared to 2% in Sweden. Younger women in particular are less likely to breastfeed with over 40% of mothers under 24 never trying. The new survey of 1000 women shows:

Myth: Over a third (34%) of women believe that modern infant formula milks are very similar or the same as breast milk

Fact: Infant formula milk does not contain the antibodies, living cells, enzymes or hormones present in breastmilk. Breastmilk is designed for each individual baby and changes over time whereas infant formula milk is designed for every baby...."