The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) has published a position paper supporting the Baby Friendly Initiative.
The RCPCH notes that "breastfeeding plays an important part in protecting children’s health." It calls for more research to improve the evidence base relating to "the extent to which breastfeeding reduces the risk of diabetes mellitus (IDDM), raised blood pressure, asthma, allergies and other atopic conditions and children’s behaviour."
Commenting on policy and practice to support breastfeeding, the RCPCH expresses support for the framework of the Baby Friendly Initiative. It goes on to call for "a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach involving families and health-care professionals to increase both the initiation and continuation of breastfeeding. This approach needs to be based on a solid foundation of evidence. A better understanding is also needed about why many women choose not to breastfeed. Breastfeeding is a natural process and with support, knowledge and education, the expectation is that the vast majority of women should be able to breastfeed."
Click here to view the full statement.
