breastfeeding
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breastfeeding older children
Many women who breastfeed beyond a year, report experiencing pressure from others to stop. However, according to the National Childbirth Trust as many as 70,000 babies a year continue to receive breast milk after 12 months of age.
Moreover, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF actually recommend that children are breastfed for 'up to two years and beyond', claiming health benefits to both mother and child. And a recent study in a medical journal found that women who breast-fed for more than one year had a lower risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.
Worldwide, the WHO reports that the average duration of breastfeeding is 4.2 years.
But, in the UK, only 2% of women are still breastfeeding by the time a baby is six months old. And a survey from 2005 showed that one in seven first time mums had stopped by the time they left hospital.
Rosie Dodds, Policy Researcher of the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) says breastfeeding beyond the first year offers considerable benefits.
'The NCT supports women to continue breastfeeding for as long as they and their baby want,' she said.
Read on for details of relevant organisations, websites and reading.
