The UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative Briefing Paper 2009

Benefits of breastfeeding
“I cannot express enough
how impressed and delighted
I was by the midwives. The
confidence and knowledge of
the staff helped me avoid
common problems like sore
nipples and I am still
breastfeeding my healthy
baby boy 12 weeks later.”
Mother who gave birth in January
2009 at the UNICEF UK Baby
Friendly accredited Royal Surrey
Hospital in Guildford
There is a wealth of published evidence 11 that demonstrates the
profound health benefits for both mothers and children that
breastfeeding provides.
Breastfed babies are less likely to suffer from a range of conditions
such as:
• Gastroenteritis
• Chest infections
• Eczema
• Ear infections
• Diabetes in childhood
• Childhood obesity
• Childhood leukaemia
• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome 12
The evidence indicates that the longer a baby is breastfed the greater
the protection from ill health they gain and the more positive the impact
on their long-term health. In comparison to a baby fed on infant formula,
a breastfed baby is five times less likely to be hospitalised with
gastroenteritis 13 and on average will visit the doctor 15 per cent less 14 .
Breastfeeding has also been shown to:
- Increase neurological and cognitive development
- Lower blood pressure 15
11. See www.babyfriendlyorg.uk/research for the latest
developments.
12. Ip S, et al (2007) Breastfeeding and Maternal Health
Outcomes in Developed Countries. AHRQ Publication No.
07-E007. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research
and Quality.
13. Howie PW, Forsyth S, et al (1990) Protective effect of breast
feeding against infection, British Medical Journal: 300:11-16
14. McConnachie A et al (2004) Modelling consultation rates in
infancy: influence of maternal and infant characteristics,
feeding type and consultation history. Br J Gen Pract: 54:
598–603.
15. Horta B.L. et al (2007) Evidence on the long-term effects of
breastfeeding. WHO
16. Strathearn L, Mamun AA, Najman JM et al (2009) Does
breastfeeding protect against substantiated child abuse and
neglect? A 15-year cohort study. Pediatrics Vol. 123; 483
17. Ip S, et al (2007) Breastfeeding and Maternal Health
Outcomes in Developed Countries. AHRQ Publication No.
07-E007. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research
and Quality.
18. Department of Health (2008) Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives:
A Cross-Government strategy for England. London: The
Stationery Office
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publichealth/Healthimprovement/Obesity/
HealthyWeight/index.htm
19. Department of Health (2008) Health Inequalities: Progress
and Next Steps. London: The Stationary Office
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/Pub
licationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_085307
20. Department of Health (2004) Breastfeeding and
the NHS Priorities and Planning Framework
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Maternity/
Maternalandinfantnutrition/DH_4071692
21. HM Government (2008) PSA Delivery Agreement 12:
Improve the health and wellbeing of children and
young people.
www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/pbr_csr07_psa12.pdf
Furthermore, breastfeeding helps secure the bond between mother
and child, with recent studies showing a reduced risk of maternal
neglect amongst breastfeeding mothers 16 .
Breastfeeding provides health benefits for mothers too, as women who
breastfeed have a reduced risk of postnatal depression and of ovarian
and breast cancer in later life 17 .
Reducing health inequalities
Evidence on the health benefits of breastfeeding has led government
policy makers in the UK to encourage breastfeeding as the best way of
ensuring a healthy start for children. In particular, breastfeeding has
been recognised as playing an important role in helping to deliver
government targets on obesity 18 and health inequalities 19 . As part of the
Government’s commitment to reduce health inequalities, a target was
set, through the NHS Priorities and Planning Framework 20 , to increase
breastfeeding initiation rates by 2 per cent annually amongst mothers
who are least likely to breastfeed. The Department of Health is
monitoring progress towards achieving this target by measuring the
prevalence of breastfeeding at 6 to 8 weeks in all primary care trusts 21 .
The UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative Improving the health of the UK
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