A STUDY of the feeding practices of 450 women who gave birth at the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital (CWIUH) found only one woman exclusively breastfed her baby for six months — as advised by the World Health Organization.
The research also revealed more non-Irish national women than Irish women attempted breastfeeding and they were also more likely to continue partially breastfeeding for six months.
Paediatric dietitian Dr Roslyn Tarrant said that encouragement from a woman’s partner and mother made a big difference to whether she breastfed. “They should be included in support and antenatal information. Ninety-four per cent of the women had decided whether they were going to do it [breastfeed] antenatally so support postnatally is too late,” she said.
Embarrassment was a significant reason for not breastfeeding among those who chose not to, Dr Tarrant added.
About Gary Culliton
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My story: When I was looking for help with breastfeeding in the Coombe with my newborn son I rang the bell and an Irish nurse told me that she was “just making up a bed next door and that she’d be in to me afterwards”. I never saw her that day. The same nurse when trying to “help” with the latch told me “I don’t know about these flared nostrils” she thought my baby was having trouble taking in enough air and continued to pull on my breast. I told her I was ok and luckily she left. Thankfully I did get excellent support from Mary Toole in the Coombe and my local GP. I now continue to breastfeed my 19 month old son and he’s thriving. Thank you. Ashling Kelleher