Breastfeeding

Exclusive breastfeeding for six months is recommended by all major health organisations (NHS, WHO/UNICEF, AAP). Breastfeeding practice in the UK falls far short of this target, with the majority of babies being fed formula milk by the age of six weeks, and only 1% achieving the WHO target of being exclusively breast-fed at six months, with negative impact on the health of mothers and babies. The input of a breastfeeding counsellor or support group is vital to resolving many problems but we hope that a well-educated GP might be able to offer some advice that will encourage a woman to continue breastfeeding and access the support that she needs. This course falls within the Children and Young People curriculum field.

This course was funded by the RCGP eLearning department.