3rd October 2005                                               

Breast is best, as the saying goes. Time and again, it has been demonstrated that breast milk gives newborn babies the best possible start in life. Breastfeeding, while normal and natural, is a learned skill and both mother and child need support. The benefits of breast milk don't just last while feeding or during childhood, but throughout life.                                                 

Waterford Regional Hospital (WRH) is the first hospital in the South East and one of only two hospitals in Ireland to receive the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, the international award for best practice.  This is a global initiative by the World Health Organisation and the United Nations Children's Fund to encourage hospitals and health workers to support breastfeeding.                                                 

Waterford Regional Hospital has implemented the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding as outlined by the global initiative.  This has been done through the dedication and commitment of the staff in the Maternity Unit of WRH.  Currently over 50% of women who deliver in WRH initiate breastfeeding.  As part of National Breastfeeding Week, WRH is providing gift packs for all mothers who deliver during the week. These contain baby gros, pens and information leaflets.  

The National Breastfeeding Week allows us to highlight, in a focused way, the benefits of breastfeeding to both mother and child.  As a Baby Friendly Hospital we have trained lactation consultants and our midwives provide ongoing support and information to the mothers in the unit.  The baby packs contain information on breastfeeding.  We will also be marking this week with display units at the front hall, canteen and the maternity unit and running a quiz for staff members and patients.                                                 

While the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 35% of all children worldwide are being breastfed at the age of four months, in Ireland, less than that number are receiving breast milk at birth. Only 12% of children in Ireland will be breastfed at four months old, according to Irish research.