Survey finds mums most confused on how to breastfeed

After having a baby, there are lots of new and confusing things that new mums have to learn very quickly.

According to the results of a survey by Philips AVENT and marking Breastfeeding Awareness Week taking place this week, 3000 new mums revealed that how to get to grips with breastfeeding confused them the most.

It’s no real surprise with such a wealth of differing advice and even differing opinions coming from potentially every midwife a new mother comes into contact with.

Around four in ten mums struggle to get to grips with breastfeeding, finding themselves unsure on whether their baby is getting enough milk, how to latch on an even how often they should be feeding.

Spokesperson from Philips AVENT, Deneice Harwin recommends that new mums surround themselves with a good support network of family, friends and even healthcare professionals to get reassurance.

She said: ‘’For most mums, having their first baby is a confusing time, and without the right support, it can really affect those precious first weeks with their new baby.

 ‘’It’s completely new and you often need help and advice from other people to help you get to grips with so many aspects of becoming a mum.  Feeding is definitely a priority for mums and because breastfeeding is the best form of nutrition for a baby, mums are understandably keen to get it right.”

Other issues that mums admitted to feeling confused about included: at what age to start potty training, how long should a baby sleep for, how many layers of clothing newborns should wear and at what age can you stop sterilizing bottles and feeding equipment.  

For confused mums needing some breastfeeding advice, independent nurse and breastfeeding advisor Vicki Scott talks about  breastfeeding in a video blog available for download from www.mybabytalk.co.uk