Efforts to boost Ireland’s low rates of breastfeeding are being hampered a lack of “generational support”. 

According to World Breastfeeding Trends, Ireland has one of the lowest rates of breastfeeding in the globe. 

In 2021, 63% of babies in Ireland were breastfed - compared to 81% in Britain and 83% in the United States. 

Benefits of breastfeeding include building a strong bond between mother and baby, boosting the child’s immune system and lower their risk of developing allergies later in life. 

La Leche League is a voluntary organisation that promotes the benefits of breastfeeding and spokesperson Lynn Carroll said it can be difficult as the issue has not “been on the agenda for so long here in Ireland”. 

“Unfortunately in Ireland, we don’t have that generational support that a lot of other countries will have,” she told Newstalk Breakfast. 

“Because we haven’t traditionally had a breastfeeding culture up until now, it’s quite difficult for those of us who are supporting the new mothers in the postpartum period to know how to support breastfeeding. 

“It’s not exactly rocket science but if you don’t know what you need to do, it can be quite difficult.”

A young mother breastfeeding at a café. Image: CBW / Alamy

Ms Carroll said “everybody’s breastfeeding journey looks completely different” and the charity helps young mothers with year-round advice.

“One of the things that we offer is free support,” she said. 

“Unfortunately in Ireland… we have fantastic lactation consultants here in the country but for a lot of people that’s just not an option because they are private, they are a business. 

“There’s a cost associated and what we’re finding is that a lot of people who need the support, just can’t access the support - so that’s where we step in.” 

Any woman who has given birth within the last two years has the right to take one hour off work every day to breastfeed her child.

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Main image: A breastfeeding mother. Picture by: Alamy.com