More than a THIRD of new mums are 'unprepared' for the challenges of breastfeeding

The struggle is real.

I breastfed my children - one for five months and another for five days. I was definitely very unprepared for some of the realities that come with getting the hang of it. Some friends of mine found it quite straightforward, but now some new research has revealed that I may not have been alone. The findings, collated by Annette Bennett for her DIT report called Maternal and Paternal Influences on Infant Diet and Growth Throughout The First Year of Life found that there is a real need for more assistance for breastfeeding mums. In addition, the survey found that more than a third of all the new mum's who signed up for the study admitted being in distress. 270 pregnant women from public and semi-private antenatal clinics of the Coombe hospital in Dublin were interviewed and then reinterviewed at birth, four, nine and 12 months after the baby was born. Most of the focus was on the mum's wellbeing and on the baby's feeding patterns.

The majority of the mums were coping well with the adjustment to motherhood however over a quarter were at some risk of distress and one in 12 was at a significant risk of distress

The report said that, of those mothers who breastfed beyond hospital discharge, 37.6% were unprepared for the challenges they encountered whilst breastfeeding. Almost half were prepared for the challenges encountered and one in seven reported having no challenges with breastfeeding. Speaking to the Kildare Nationalist, the research author, Annemarie Bennett, says it is understandable that a mother may feel overwhelmed by the transition of motherhood and for those who breastfeed they "may be more likely to have that added challenge"

"There are huge psychological associations with breastfeeding, how a mother feels about breastfeeding. It’s not just about that bond with the baby, it’s about the confidence of the mother with breastfeeding. We need them to feel confident in it and the benefits of it and their own ability.”

The research points to the need for more structured guidance to assist mums for preparing for breastfeeding:

"Health professionals must persist in promoting healthy weaning and vitamin D supplementation practices. Further research is needed to identify clinically useful ways in which the growth and body composition of infants can be assessed."

I could have done with more help in understanding the right clothes to wear and to be prepared for the latch to take some time to get right. I had read up so much on nursing but some more practical advice would have been hugely beneficial to me and perhaps would have encouraged me to feed for longer. What do you think, ladies - was there enough support out there for you ahead of your breastfeeding journey? We would love to hear your thoughts on the matter.

More than a THIRD of new mums are ‘unprepared’ for the challenges of breastfeeding

The struggle is real.