Breastfeeding facts

Mothers who are more likely to breastfeed

Who's more likely to breastfeed?
Breastfeeding has increased in the UK since 1990, though certain groups of mothers are more likely to breastfeed their babies than others. UK national statistics make interesting reading:

Mothers of first babies
74% of first-time mothers breastfed their babies compared to 65% of mothers of second or later babies.
Older mothers
78% of mothers aged 30 or over breastfed their babies compared with 46% of teenage mothers.
Mothers working in higher occupations
85% of British mothers in higher occupations breastfed initially compared with 73% of mothers in intermediate and 59% in lower occupations, with the lowest rate among mothers who had never worked - just 52%.
Mothers who'd stayed in full-time education for longer
54% of mothers who left full-time education before the age of 16 breastfed compared with 88% of mothers educated to age 19 or beyond.
Mothers from ethnic minority groups
95% of black mothers and 87% of mothers from an Asian background started breastfeeding compared with 67% of white mothers.

Why some mothers give up breastfeeding baby

Why some mums give up while others carry on breastfeeding
Watching a baby suckle at a mother's breast seems like the most natural sight in the world. Yet, for many new mums, breastfeeding isn't as easy as it appears.

Although more than two-thirds of all British mothers initially breastfeed, UK national statistics show that one-fifth of mums (21%) give up within the first two weeks and over one-third (36%) within the first six weeks of breastfeeding. The proportion of all British mothers breastfeeding at two weeks is 52%, dropping to just 13% at nine months.

Nine in ten mothers (90%) who give up breastfeeding within six weeks of the birth say they would have liked to have continued breastfeeding for longer. The most common reasons given by these mothers for having given up breastfeeding were the baby rejecting the breast, sore nipples or insufficient breast milk.

If you're having problems with breastfeeding, it may mean you need more help and support. Before you make a decision to give up, ask your midwife, health visitor or a breastfeeding counsellor to sit with you while you go through your feeding routine. Many women get help from other breastfeeding mothers, so take time to find out about your local baby groups before your baby is born.

If you do decide to mix-feed or bottlefeed, don't feel that you've failed. The important thing is to give breastfeeding your best shot, and ensure you've had all the help and advice you need. The National Childbirth Trust has a presence at all of The Baby Shows, so take time out to speak to its experts.