Does a ‘biological nurturing’ approach reduce breastfeeding problems and how do midwives support women to prevent early cessation?

Introduction

Breastfeeding is the ideal source of nourishment for infants, with many long-term health benefits for children and mothers. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that babies are exclusively breastfed during their first six months of life (WHO 2019). However, rates of breastfeeding in the UK are among the lowest in the world with only 24 per cent of babies exclusively breastfed at six weeks, reducing to one per cent exclusively breastfed at six months (Unicef UK 2020).