New Mums feel breastfeeding pressure

A poll of more than 2000 new mothers commissioned by Netmums’ new YouTube channel “Channel Mum” has revealed that 4 out of 10 new mothers feel they have ‘failed as a mum and failed their child’ because they had not breastfed.  It also found that 7 in 10 bottle-feeding mothers said they had been judged negatively because they did not breastfeed.

RCM professional policy advisor Janet Fyle said “The RCM is clear in our position that, for some women, breastfeeding is not appropriate and, if they chose to bottle feed their infants, they should be supported to do so safely and not made to feel guilty because of their infant feeding choice”.

Channel Mum founder, Siobhan Freegard says:  “Most mothers desperately want to breastfeed – but not all can. … New mums need support, not pressure, to give them the best start in motherhood and babies the best start in life.”

Netmums summary can be viewed here

RCM report here