IN FOCUS: The mums who really know if breast is best

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Moms with affected children . . . would you let them know what breastfeeding with implants did for your children? - Rogene

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IN FOCUS: The mums who really know if breast is best

BREASTFEEDING is as good for mum as it is for baby, and can help protect both against serious health problems. But as much as some women find breastfeeding a breeze, others find feeding baby the natural way can be a difficult, even painful experience. Features writer Jemma Walton visited a baby feeding group on its first anniversary, and spoke to mums about whether or not breast really is best.

"IT'S one of the best things I've ever done," said 31-year-old Sally Leitch, looking at her son Connor. "It just seemed natural, and helped me lose weight after he was born."Sally breastfed her son for six months – as recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) – and has been going along to weekly Baby Cafe meetings at Christ Church, Orton Goldhay, borough for the past year."It's really good because the other mums are really supportive, a really nice bunch," she said. "Everyone is really open and friendly, and we can talk over any problems we might have. And you're guaranteed a piece of cake."The UK has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in Europe, which is a worrying statistic Breastfeeding Awareness Week hopes to tackle.

Research has shown that breastfed babies have better immune systems and are less likely to become overweight in later life. And the benefits for mothers include increased protection from breast and ovarian cancers.But feeding baby from the breast isn't always as natural and easy as mums and WHO would like it to be.Clare Brown (27), of Kingfisher, Orton Wistow, struggled for weeks to get her son, , to breastfeed, and aged five months, he now feeds half on bottles, half on breastmilk."I found it quite upsetting when he wouldn't take milk from me," she said. "I felt as though I had failed in some way. There is a pressure on mums to breastfeed, and so if you have the problems I did you can get upset."It got to the point that would be sucking blood rather than milk, which is when doctors recommended Clare try nipple shields to encourage to take milk from her. Luckily, it worked, and today

Clare's son takes milk from his mum every day.Breastfeeding was a much happier experience for 33-year-old Annette and her little one, Abby Grace -Siggery, which proves that breastfeeding does vary from mum to mum and baby to baby.She said: "I loved it. It was convenient, and I felt very close to her. I felt very bonded to her when she'd look at me as I gave her milk. It wasn't painful at all."Annette says she'll breastfeed 20-week-old Abby-Grace for as long as her daughter wanted to, adding "she'll probably have to tell me to stop."Kirstie Jewell (28) decided not to breastfeed her 10-month-old baby JD, as she felt bottled milk was more convenient. She returned to her job as a clerical assistant in the NHS after six months. "One of my friends breastfeeds," she said, "and I can't notice any difference between babies that are breastfed and those that aren't." The Baby Cafe, at Christ Church, Orton Goldhay,

celebrated its first anniversary this week, and offers mums and babies advice and support from midwives and health visitors. The cafe is open between 11.15am and 12.45pm each Monday. » More information is available at www.orton.surestart.org. Breastfeeding facts» The Queen, Madonna, Margaret Thatcher and Pamela all breastfed their children. » Humans are one of 4,237 species of mammal which breastfeed their young. » You can store breast milk in the fridge for 24 hours and in the freezer for up to three months. » There is 10 times the amount of silicon in formula milk than in the breast milk of a mother with implants. » Babies who breastfeed have a lower risk of gastroenteritis, respiratory, urinary tract and ear infections, eczema and wheezing. » Longer-term, a breastfed baby is likely to be more intelligent

and have less incidence of childhood diabetes, obesity and a range of other health problems.» Mothers have a lower risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer, ovarian cancer and hip fractures.

Campaign to outlaw public harassmentDAD-to-be Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown has thrown his weight behind a campaign to outlaw the harassment of mothers who breastfeed their babies in public. Campaigners are pushing for it to be an offence for anyone to try to prevent a baby being breastfed in public, after similar legislation was introduced in Scotland last year. The call for change follows reports that up to 50 per cent of breastfeeding women say they are made to feel uncomfortable in public. In some cases, passers-by have called police, and last month Frances Newell, from south London, was forced to give up her job as a volunteer teaching assistant at her son's infant school because the headteacher objected to her breastfeeding her baby in front of other four-year-olds while she listened to them read.Movie star Kate Hudson was also criticised for breastfeeding her son

in front of the director when filming The Skeleton Key, all of which helped trigger MP Kidney's Private Member's Bill for a breastfeeding law in England. "We have to change our attitudes to women breastfeeding in public," said health visitor Boreham, who advises women at the Baby Cafe."I heard about one woman breastfeeding in Mcs, and being asked to move to the toilet instead. You wouldn't go and eat in a toilet, and so why should a mother have to feed her baby there?"The Baby Cafe is good because it can help give women the confidence to breastfeed in public. A lot of children are shocked when they find out about breastfeeding, because all the dolls in the toyshops come with bottles."We need to get the message across that breastfeeding is a natural thing, not something that women should be embarrassed about and forced to hide."Chancellor Brown's wife , who is expecting another child in less than two months,

said she had breastfed their son until he was six months old, and "thoroughly enjoyed" the experience. But a survey by the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) found that although 85 per cent of women breastfed, more than half of them had felt embarrassed when feeding their baby in public. borough High School teacher Emma Hollywood said she had been "absolutely mortified" at the thought of breastfeeding in public, before taking her baby, Maeve Mantell, to a wedding."Maeve started to cry, and so I lifted my top up and started to breastfeed her," she said. "As I did that, the service ended, and everyone filed past me as I was breastfeeding. So everyone in the church had seen me doing it. That freed me up, and I was fine about breastfeeding after that."I think it's outrageous to object to breastfeeding. You can't really see anything, after all."Emma decided to breastfeed as her mum had had breast cancer, and breastfeeding

can reduce the risk of breast and ovarian cancer, as well as having lots of health benefits for baby.But for all the health benefits breastfeeding brought, in the beginning Emma found giving her child mother's milk an uphill struggle. "I had thrush in my breasts," she said. "But after coming here the health visitor gave me some advice, and we sorted things out. I would definitely breastfeed if I had another child."Health bosses offer a comfortable spaceTHE city's health bosses are allowing mums to breastfeed in all their public places – and are offering them a comfortable space if they prefer to feed their baby in private.They are also offering mums access to health visitors, support groups and counsellors. Lake, health visitor professional lead for Greater borough Primary Care Partnership (GPPCP), said: "Our message to parents in borough is that breastfeeding is the best way to give babies a good

start in life, and we want to make it easier for parents to make that decision."Breast milk provides the perfect nutrition for the first six months of a baby's life. It offers many health benefits, such as preventing stomach bugs, chest infections, asthma, eczema and allergies, and it also reduces the likelihood of becoming obese in later childhood."Fiona Elliot, borough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Trust hospitals infant feeding advisor, said the trust offers fortnightly workshops where mums-to-be, their parents and friends and family can discover the facts about breastfeeding, practical tips and find out about the health benefits that can last a lifetime. Not only does breastfeeding help to give babies a good start in life, but it can help to make a difference to mum, too, as:

No special equipment is needed; no mixing and no heating.

It doesn't cost a penny.

It helps mum regain her shape more quickly after childbirth

It helps develop a strong emotional bond with your child. » For information about breastfeeding workshops, call Fiona Elliot on 01733 875380, or your local midwife or health visitor. People can also call the National Childbirth Trust breastfeeding helpline on 0870 444 8708, or visit www.breastfeeding.nhs.uk and Fathers Direct at www.fathersdirect.com.

Last Updated: 17 May 2006