Avent Survey Suggests Half Of New Moms Aren't Comfortable With Breastfeeding In Public

According to a survey conducted by baby bottle maker Avent, 50% of new moms say that they try to avoid breastfeeding in public when possible as it makes them uncomfortable.

Over the last several years, breastfeeding advocates have made breastfeeding not only acceptable but a legal right in cafes, restaurants and shops. Even despite all this, in a survey of 3,000 mums, it was found that one in four don't feel at ease exposing their breasts in public and would rather use bottles to feed their babies.

The survey also stated that:

• Twenty six percent of mums said they would only do it when they have no alternative.
• More than half of women who participated in the survey found public breastfeeding the hardest to master
• Only one in three confessed of not feeling shy
• Three in four said they felt worried their baby may not have had enough milk

"Getting started with breastfeeding can be very challenging for a new mum especially as it is a whole new experience for her and baby," the Daily Express quoted Vicki Scott, feeding and wellbeing advisor for the Avent brand.

He added: If a baby is constantly feeding, or the mum is sore, it could be the baby is only nipple-feeding. A midwife or health visitor is the first person to ask for advice."

Women are advised by health professionals to feed newborn babies for around 20 minutes, every two to three hours. But this can be reduced to once every three to four hours within a month or two. 

This is really disheartening, and I find it quite interesting that a bottle company was the one to conduct this survey. Breastfeeding is best for both mother and child, period. Instead of publishing surveys on how women feel or how society is making them feel about breastfeeding, more should be done to encourage and educate young mothers.

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Breastfeeding problems could be due to the drugs given during childbirth

Research that was recently published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, suggests that various painkillers and drugs that are usually given to women during labour may reduce their ability to breastfeed their baby. This could be a reason why the breastfeeding rates in the UK are the lowest in Europe with only 45% of babies being breastfed exclusively after birth. One in four are formula fed.

The Swansea team analysed data on more than 48,000 women who gave birth in South Wales.

They found use of the drugs oxytocin or ergometrine to cut the risk of hemorrhage was associated with an overall 7% decline in the proportion who started breastfeeding within 48 hours of giving birth.

Among women who were not given the drugs, two-thirds (65.5%) started breastfeeding within 48 hours of giving birth.

But among those given a shot of oxytocin the breastfeeding rate was 59.1%, and among those who were given an additional injection of ergometrine the rate fell to just 56.4%.

Interestingly enough two thirds of the women who were involved in the study and gave birth between 1989 and 1999, that did not receive any hemorrhaging drugs breastfed their baby within 48 hours of giving birth. Those numbers were reduced to 59.1% after given an injection of oxytocin and dropped again to 56.4% after receiving an additional injection of ergometrine.

Dr Jordan said the study highlighted a pressing need for follow-up research.

She said: "The potentially life-saving treatments to prevent bleeding after birth must not be compromised on the basis of this study but further studies are required to establish ways to minimise any effects on breastfeeding rates.

"In the meantime, what we would like to see would be provision of extra help for new mothers trying to establish breastfeeding by making sure to allow enough time for the effect of drugs given in labour to subside."

Obstetrician and spokesperson for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Patrick O'Brien, found that the study was interesting but needed to be followed up closely.

He said: "This small possible effect on breastfeeding has to be balanced against the beneficial effects of these drugs, which are known to reduce the risk of heavy bleeding after birth from 18% to 6%.

"At the moment, I would say the benefits of using the drugs outweigh the theoretical downsides."

One of the policy research officers for the National Childbirth Trust, Rosemary Dodds added:

"A lot of women are not given enough information about the medications that might be given to them during childbirth, and women at low risk of bleeding may not need to take these drugs.

"It is important that women understand the risks and can give their informed consent before they go into labour."

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