England must accelerate breastfeeding and infant feeding support

"Parents need unbiased, evidence-based information and support to enable them to feed their babies in the way they decide. But England is falling behind the devolved nations in providing essential support for breastfeeding. 

"Despite the well-documented health benefits of breastfeeding for both mothers, new parents and babies, there is a lack of training among health professionals and the absence of a coordinated national strategy in England.

"There are significant gaps in knowledge and training among healthcare professionals, particularly in hospitals and community settings. While midwives and health visitors in Baby Friendly-accredited services receive breastfeeding education, many doctors, nurses, and pharmacists lack even the basic understanding needed to support it. This leaves women and people who are breastfeeding or chestfeeding  without essential, compassionate guidance and support, especially when they encounter health challenges that impact their feeding journey.  

"The progress seen in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland demonstrates the importance of strong national leadership and investment in breastfeeding support. England needs a well-funded national infant feeding strategy that includes mandatory training for all health professionals, increased staffing in maternity and health visiting services, and robust protections against misleading formula marketing.  

“We need an ecosystem of funded, dedicated, and specific infant feeding support in the immediate hours and weeks after birth, followed by ongoing, personalised care throughout the postnatal period.

“Imagine the difference it would make if we had a fully funded workforce of health visitors, community midwives, infant feeding specialists, breastfeeding counsellors, peer supporters and other support and services in the community that could guide and protect women and new parents by delivering trusted information and continuity of care.

"Investing in breastfeeding support is not only beneficial for women, new parents and families but also a cost-effective measure that will save the NHS millions and significantly improve public health outcomes."

“How women and new parents feed their babies is a personal decision, which is dependent on circumstances, available information and support, challenges that arise, and the social, and cultural context.  

“But with statistics showing that a high proportion of parents do not get the support and information they need during their feeding journey – NCT calls on the UK Government to prioritise support for breastfeeding and infant feeding, ensuring that every parent feels informed and supported.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

• NCT is a national charity that supports people as they become parents. We’re here through pregnancy, birth and early parenthood.
• NCT offers all parents support with all types of infant feeding. We provide parent-centred, evidence-based information that is impartial and without bias and empower people to make and sustain the decisions that feel right for them and their families.  
• NCT Baby Cafes are free-to-access, community drop-ins, led by an NCT Breastfeeding Counsellor, and are sometimes supported by NCT Breastfeeding Peer Supporters. They provide support, encouragement, and evidence-based information with all types of infant feeding, free of charge. We want to bring NCT Baby Cafés to even more communities and reach a wider range of parents across the UK.
• NCT’s Infant Feeding Line provides practical and emotional support for parents with questions or concerns relating to any aspect of feeding their child. The line is open from 8am to midnight 365 days per year and support is offered free-of-charge. Calls are answered by an NCT Breastfeeding Counsellor, who provides skilled, evidence-based, and parent-centred support and information with all types of infant feeding.