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Breastfeeding by local moms drops off after 2 months: Study

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A survey on breastfeeding in Chatham-Kent shows about 30 per cent of babies are exclusively breastfed when they are two months old, but that drops to 11 per cent at the six-month level.

The surveillance was conducted for the first time as part of the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit’s involvement in the national Baby Friendly Initiative.

Marnie Van Vlymen, the program manager of infant and child health for the health unit, said mothers who participated in the survey mostly cited not having enough milk for no longer exclusively breastfeeding.

She said the largest percentage of drop-offs occurs at a period when babies are feeding more.

“What is happening is that natural process of the baby feeding more frequently because of the growth spurt and that growth spurt then inadvertently increases the milk supply to satisfy that growth spurt,” she said.

“Moms are recognizing it as them wanting to feed more because they’re not getting enough.”

Van Vlymen said this is one area where more education is needed.

The largest drop in exclusivity occurs between 3.5 months and 4.5 months and the second largest drop occurs between five and six months, according to the report.

However, 71.6 per cent of women are doing some breastfeeding at two months and 80.2 per cent at six months.

As well, the survey found 47.6 per cent of mothers reported using services or programs to help with feeding their babies at two months. At six months, that number dropped to 27.2 per cent.

“The physicians are definitely talking about the feeding in terms of the nutrition for the baby and how the baby is growing and all of that piece, but the latching positioning, milk supply, all of that, they’re looking to the community for those supports,” said Van Vlymen

An early step in the Baby Friendly Initiative is to inform women about breastfeeding and related services while they are pregnant.

“During pregnancy is when moms are gathering information and really making the biggest kind of decision of their feeding, so most mothers know when they go into hospital when they give birth to their baby, they’re planned for feeding,” said Van Vlymen.

The surveillance found 66.8 per cent of mothers were aware their employer is required to accommodate breastfeeding needs when returning to work, she said.

“We have a huge population of people that do not have the financial stability to be able to be off work for a full year,” she said, adding more work is needed to educate mothers about their rights.

The surveillance was conducted online between September 2016 and August. Results for a second year are currently being collected and will be compared to the first year. 

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