THIS World Breastfeeding Week (1 to 7 August), NHS England in the North West is encouraging mothers to breastfeed for as long as they want, saying it provides the best possible nutritional start in life for babies and protection from infections.

While breastfeeding rates in the North West are improving, the region is behind the national average and faces greater health inequalities compared to other parts of the country due to deprivation, with evidence showing mothers living in affluent areas are more likely to breastfeed.

The latest available data shows that in 2023/24, 62 per cent of babies in the North West received breastmilk as their first feed (up from 55 per cent in 2020/21), compared to 72 per cent nationally. But the gaps are greater in some areas such as Halton in Merseyside, where just 27.6 per cent of babies in Halton in the North West were breastfed at six to eight weeks that year, compared with 81.2 per cent in Hertfordshire.

By the time babies in the North West are six to eight weeks old, nearly 46 per cent are being totally or partially breastfed (2023/24), which has risen from 39 per cent in 2018/19 but is still below the England average of 53 per cent.

Michelle Waterfall, North West Deputy Regional Chief Midwife and Professional Midwifery Advocate at NHS England in the North West, said: “The many benefits from breastfeeding to both women and children are well established. It protects against illness, helps mothers bond with their babies and gives babies the best nutritional start in life.

“We’re seeing more families in the North West breastfeed for longer. However, we know the journey isn’t always easy for everyone and World Breastfeeding Week is an opportunity to highlight the support available out there, raise awareness of how breastfeeding helps babies and mothers, and celebrate those who are championing breastfeeding.”

The Government advises infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life, after which other drinks and food stuff can be introduced alongside breastmilk.

The role that breastfeeding can play in helping to boosting babies’ immune systems and helping to prevent infections supports the shift from treating ill health to having more of a focus on preventing it, which was set out in the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan for England at the beginning of July.

When it comes to inequalities, women who were younger, left education earlier, were living in more socially disadvantaged areas, were of white British ethnicity and born in the UK were the least likely to breastfeed.

Understanding and addressing barriers to breastfeeding faced by women with the lowest uptake can play an important role in increasing breastfeeding rates and reducing maternal and child health inequalities, which is very much the focus of the Local Maternity and Neonatal Systems Equity and Equality plans.

Michelle Waterfall said: “There has been improvement in breastfeeding uptake in the North West, and we’re keen to build on that foundation, something that will go a long way when it comes to the 10 Year Health Plan.

“Ensuring breastfeeding is an integral part of a child’s early development is key and there are infant feeding services across the North West that are there to help and empower people.”

For more information, help and support on infant feeding click here.