More new mothers start breastfeeding

More than eight out of 10 newborns are now breastfed, up from six out of 10 in 1990.

The data for 2010, from the NHS Information Centre, covers the whole of the UK.

A breakdown shows that breastfeeding rates were higher in England than in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, although rates have risen in most areas. The report covers babies who are initially breastfed – including those who have been put to the breast only once.

More detailed data on the proportion of women who are still breastfeeding six weeks later and when their child is about six months old will be published next year.

The report comes after it emerged the Department of Health in England has axed funding for National Breastfeeding Awareness Week, which runs this week.

Campaigners have also accused Ministers of cutting funding for a network of regional infant feeding co-ordinators, who train staff and offer advice on feeding babies.

The report showed that 90 per cent of women in managerial and professional jobs breastfeed their child initially, dropping to 74 per cent of those in routine or manual jobs and 71 per cent of those who have never worked.

Older mothers are also more likely to breastfeed (87 per cent over the age of 30) compared to 58 per cent of mothers under 20.

The data was gathered from almost 16,000 women and showed a rise from 76 per cent to 83 per cent in initial breastfeeding in England between 2005 and 2010.

In Wales, the figure rose from 67 per cent to 71 per cent, and from 70 per cent to 74 per cent in Scotland.

For Northern Ireland, there was no real change between 2005 and 2010.