A study by the Australian Institute of Family Studies has found that breastfeeding rates among Australian women are still below the levels recommended by the World Health Organisation.
The study of 5,000 children found that just 14% were breastfed at six months down from 80% at birth and 56% at three months old."Breastfeeding is the normal way to feed a baby and by not breastfeeding there are risks to a baby's health, there are lots of studies that document that," Australian Breastfeeding Association national president Margaret Grove said. "I think women are made to feel embarrassed by breastfeeding and people sometimes feel a bit squeamish about it."
The study also found that rates of breastfeeding dropped if women returned to work within three months of delivery.
Source-Medindia
RAS/L
