Breastfeeding Poster - the REAL scandal

I'm still shaking my head over this poster furore - I just can't get my head around the negative reaction to a child pretending to do something her body is designed to do.

It led me to investigate breast feeding rates both here and in the UK to see how we compared.

If the stats at http://www.babyfriendly.org.uk/page.asp?page=21 are to be believed only 35 percent of babies in the UK are being exclusively breastfed at one week old, and an embarrassingly low 3 percent at five months.

Perhaps Councillor Jean Ashworth, who also works as a healthcare assistant in the hospital, who said the "the picture is highly offensive" should take some time to study the benefits of breastfeeding for mother and baby

And just out of interest, I looked up NZ's rates. From the Ministry of Health website:

New Zealand’s breastfeeding rates for 2007 are as follows:

• At six weeks, the full and exclusive breastfeeding overall rate was 65% with a breakdown of, 58% of Māori babies, 53% of Pacific babies, 56% of Asian babies, 70% of Other babies
• At three months, the full and exclusive breastfeeding overall rate was 54% with a breakdown of 44% of Māori babies, 43% of Pacific babies, 52% of Asian babies, 59% of Other babies.
• At six months, the full and exclusive breastfeeding overall rate was 26% with, 17% of Māori, 18% of Pacific babies, 26% of Asian babies, 29% of Other babies.

Far, far better, but still room for improvement! Come on everyone, lets SUPPORT breastfeeding mothers. Nude Breastfeeding Sit-in being organised in Aotea Square - bring your toddlers! nah, just kidding. ;)