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 was funded by the RCGP eLearning department.