BfN statement on the ‘Effects of Financial Incentives for Breastfeeding’ research
With such a substantial body of evidence showing the benefits of breastfeeding for both mothers and babies, we believe everyone should have the right to make an informed decision about how they feed their baby – and to receive support, if they need it, to make it work for them. Just because a family may happen to live in an area where there is little or no culture of breastfeeding, it shouldn’t mean they should be overlooked – and this study aimed to test what might make a difference in those areas.
We should remember that the availability of good quality breastfeeding support is lacking in many, if not most communities across the UK and we know that support is what makes the difference for many families on their breastfeeding journeys. We should also be mindful that if more mothers were to choose to initiate breastfeeding, for whatever reason, there would be an even greater need to provide additional support services for all families.
For latest news about this research study, see the UNICEF Baby Friendly website and this BBC News video and article