Low rates of breastfeeding in Ireland are because society is still “not very supportive of breastfeeding”, a group that supports young mothers have said. 

The HSE recommends women breastfeed their babies if possible as it “protects your baby against lots of illnesses and conditions”. 

It also has a number of health benefits for mothers as well. 

Despite this, fewer Irish mothers breastfeed than in other European countries. 

“64% of babies in Ireland are given breast milk as their first feed,” La Leche League spokesperson Lynn Carroll told Newstalk Breakfast.  

“Which, unfortunately, compares not great with our nearest neighbours in the UK or other European countries - which would be up in the 90s. 

“Our initiation rates are quite low but by the time babies are going home, that number drops down to 37% of babies being exclusively breastfed.” 

A woman breastfeeding her baby. Image: Alamy Stock Photo

Ms Carroll said there are a “number of reasons” behind the figures. 

“Society itself is not very supportive of breastfeeding,” she said. 

“At La Leche League, we’ve been around for nearly 60-years now, we are here to support and encourage breastfeeding using evidence based information for anybody who wants to give breast milk to their baby.

“We’re trying to normalise breastfeeding.” 

A mother breastfeeding a baby. Image: Alamy.com.

Despite this, Ms Carroll believes that overt hostility towards women breastfeeding their babies is now a “thing of the past”. 

“People may be initially nervous to breastfeed in public but what’s more important is knowing what normal behaviour for a breastfed infant looks like,” she said. 

“So, breastfed babies will very frequently take small amounts; that can be quite a challenge for people when they’re not expecting it. 

“In the first 24 hours after birth, we’d expect a breastfed baby to be looking to be fed 10 to 12 times plus - even more. 

“That intensity of feeding, particularly in those early days, knocks people’s confidence.” 

Anyone looking for free advice on breastfeeding, can consult La Leche League’s website.

Main image: A young mother breastfeeding at a café. Picture by: CBW / Alamy.com.