Improving Maternal and Infant Nutrition: A Framework for Action

Breastfeeding at Birth3.23 Information on breastfeeding at birth is collected at the first visit review withthe public health nurse when the infant is around eleven days old. ISD Scotlanddata show that 60% of mothers were breastfeeding in total (including those using acombination of breastfeeding and formula feeding) and 56% were exclusivelybreastfeeding in Scotland at birth in 2009 (Figure 3). This is a slight increase from56% total breastfeeding and 52% exclusively breastfeeding in 2001. As thisinformation is collected at the first visit review it relies on the mother recalling theinformation and could therefore overestimate breastfeeding rates. It is notable thatthese data, covering approximately 90% of births in Scotland, suggest breastfeedinginitiation rates are lower than reported by surveys, which may use differentdefinitions and experience selective participation.Figure 3: Breastfeeding Rates at Birth in Scotland by Year of Birth, 2001 to2009Source: ISD Scotland. Data for 2009 are provisional and are estimated to be around99% complete.Breastfeeding at the First Visit Review3.24 In 2009, 46% of mothers in Scotland were breastfeeding in total (includingthose using a combination of breastfeeding and formula feeding) and 37% wereexclusively breastfeeding at the first visit review (Figure 4). Breastfeeding rates atthis ten day visit have changed little since 2001.