Breastfeeding boost in Lothians

The government advises breastfeeding for the first six months

Almost half of babies born last year in the Lothians were breastfed, according to new figures.

Checks six to eight weeks after birth showed 48% of newborns were either fully or partially breastfed, ahead of the Scottish average of 36%.

About 9,000 babies are born in the Lothians each year.

The figures were published by the Scottish Government's ISD Scotland health statistics body as part of National Breastfeeding Awareness Week.

NHS Lothian is already ahead of a new Scottish Government target which comes into force for other boards in 2010 to 2011.

While breastfeeding levels are higher than average in Lothian, we know they could be higher still Dr Alison McCallum NHS Lothian

Of the 48% of Lothian infants receiving breast milk, 35% were exclusively breastfed.

The new Scottish Government target is for 32.7% of Scottish infants to be exclusively breastfed by 2010 to 2011.

Dr Alison McCallum, NHS Lothian director of public health and health policy, said: "We fully support breastfeeding as the best way to ensure your child is given a good start in life.

"While breastfeeding levels are higher than average in Lothian, we know they could be higher still and are trying hard to support women in making breastfeeding their choice of nutrition for their babies.

"It's really important that women and their partners, friends and family know that there is support and advice available from the NHS and other agencies to help get breastfeeding established.

"Some women might not know other women who've breastfed, but we do.

"We have both experts and people from all sorts of backgrounds who are willing to help mums make breastfeeding work for them and their babies."

National Breastfeeding Awareness Week runs until 17 May.