English mums to get extra government help

The government have pledged an extra £2m to help raise England's performance in the European breastfeeding league. Currently just 78% of new mums start out breastfeeding in England – compared to 99% in Norway, 98% in Denmark and 91% in Italy. Only France, Germany and Ireland have lower levels of woman who breastfeed their babies from the word go.

Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo pledged the money today as part of extra funding for hospitals in particularly deprived areas. 'By international standards not enough women breastfeed in England. This money will help more mums – particularly those in more deprived areas - to breastfeed and to do so for longer. We want to ensure women know the importance of breastfeeding and the benefits to themselves and their baby.'

Even though 78% of new mums begin breastfeeding their babies in England, just 22% of them are still breastfeeding when their child reaches six months of age.

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