From 1st to 7th October, Ireland marks National Breastfeeding Week. For many mums, breastfeeding support still doesn’t meet expectations – but recent years have seen new initiatives aimed at improving breastfeeding rates across the country.
Let’s look at a few things which have happened in the last few years to improve breastfeeding rates in Ireland.
Government Investment and Research
In the last few years the government has allocated more budget for Lactation Consultants in Ireland. In 2021, there were only 21 lactation consultants across Ireland – barely one per maternity hospital (of which there are 19 in Ireland). By last year, that number had risen to 30. While welcome, the coverage is still patchy, often limited to Monday–Friday, 9–5 hours.
In 2021, there were only 21 lactation consultants across Ireland – barely one per maternity hospital
In 2023, the government allocated €2.5 million in research funding to University College Cork, specifically to identify what’s needed to improve breastfeeding rates nationwide.
Community and Health Service Initiatives
The Health Service, through programmes like Healthy Ireland, has promoted initiatives such as “Breastfeeding Friendly Businesses.”
Improved record keeping of breastfeeding data has also been introduced, although mums have reported to me, that this seems to be sporadic.
Success Stories in Offaly
County Offaly offers a shining example of progress. Breastfeeding rates in Offaly moved from the lowest in the country for 3-month-old babies to one of the highest within just 3 years – reaching as much as 60%.
Breastfeeding rates in Offaly moved from the lowest in the country for 3-month-old babies to one of the highest within just 3 years
This success is largely thanks to a government-part-funded Cuidiú breastfeeding support group (partially funded by government) and the hiring of a community lactation consultant.
Gaps That Still Exist
Despite progress, many mums still report difficulties accessing support in hospital, especially outside standard hours. Many mums tell me they still cannot get access to support in hospital at times when they really need it. For second-time mums, support can be even harder to come by. As a mum who has had two kids, and two very different breastfeeding journeys, I know how damaging this can be. We must begin to recognise within hospital care that no two breastfeeding journeys are the same, even for mums who have breastfed before.
There are also inconsistencies in diagnosing tongue tie. Many mums will comment that a midwife will have checked and assured them there is no tongue tie, then weeks later, another professional identifies tongue tie and recommend treatment. We really need a consistent model of identifying and solving breastfeeding issues quickly, to ensure a mum is well set up before she leaves hospital, or else has a follow-up when she is at home.
Maternity Leave and Breastfeeding Rates
Another area worth reviewing is maternity leave. Currently in Ireland only 6 months of maternity leave is provided legally, and this has not been reviewed by government since 2007.
Currently in Ireland only 6 months of maternity leave is provided legally, and this has not been reviewed by government since 2007.
If we look to our EU counterparts, there is a direct correlation between maternity leave up to 1 year and higher breastfeeding rates.
Changing Attitudes and Breaking Stigma
Beyond healthcare and policy, societal attitudes remain a huge barrier. We still have a massive stigma around our bodies and breastfeeding with many still deeming breastfeeding as “disgusting”, “unhealthy”, “unnecessary”. All these terms I have heard when I talk about breastfeeding, so our attitudes and education around breastfeeding need a massive overhaul too.
We really need to highlight the medical benefits of breastfeeding for baby and mums better – and not just with leaflets in a hospitals. The wider community needs to understand why they should support breastfeeding mums and why it affects our future health also. Birth workers, doulas and other health professionals do so much to promote breastfeeding but everyone has a role to play in changing perceptions and normalising breastfeeding.
We really need to highlight the medical benefits of breastfeeding for baby and mums better – and not just with leaflets in a hospitals.
A Call for Solidarity
This National Breastfeeding Week, I encourage every breastfeeding mum – not just the mums currently feeding – to have a conversation about breastfeeding. Share your story on social media, whether it’s an image or a few words. I guarantee if you do, another mum will relate, another will feel heard, and another will feel less alone.
Together, we can create solidarity among breastfeeding mothers and push for the cultural shift that Ireland still needs.
