Inspiring rise in Irish breastfeeding rates amid expanding healthcare supports
Breastfeeding rates across Ireland have reached historic highs, with over six in ten babies now breastfed at birth. Enhanced community resources and dedicated specialist midwives are helping families navigate their feeding journeys with confidence.
Source:
HSE — Health Service Executive
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⏱️ 2 min read
Breastfeeding rates across Ireland continue to climb steadily, with official figures showing that more than six in ten babies are now breastfed at birth. The proportion of newborns receiving breast milk rose to 65.8% last year, up from 63.8% in 2019, while rates at three months of age have reached 51.5%. This milestone represents a significant 16.1% increase over the past decade, marking the highest levels recorded since official statistics began in 1988.
This positive trajectory is being driven by sustained investment in Health Service Executive supports, including the recruitment of 60 specialist infant feeding staff and the rollout of the National Infant Feeding Education Programme for healthcare professionals. Communities nationwide now benefit from 255 local support groups, postnatal hubs, and targeted funding for breast pumps to assist families with pre-term or unwell infants. Furthermore, upcoming insights gathered from the ongoing online infant feeding survey on mychild.ie will directly shape the forthcoming National Breastfeeding Strategy.
As the country prepares for National Breastfeeding Week from 1 to 7 October under the theme 'Every step forward: Strengthening support for babies and families', experts continue to champion early guidance. Frontline practitioners emphasise that while infant feeding is a natural process, it is a learned skill requiring patience, and local mothers can easily access trusted advice through the official website and dedicated community networks.
This positive trajectory is being driven by sustained investment in Health Service Executive supports, including the recruitment of 60 specialist infant feeding staff and the rollout of the National Infant Feeding Education Programme for healthcare professionals. Communities nationwide now benefit from 255 local support groups, postnatal hubs, and targeted funding for breast pumps to assist families with pre-term or unwell infants. Furthermore, upcoming insights gathered from the ongoing online infant feeding survey on mychild.ie will directly shape the forthcoming National Breastfeeding Strategy.
As the country prepares for National Breastfeeding Week from 1 to 7 October under the theme 'Every step forward: Strengthening support for babies and families', experts continue to champion early guidance. Frontline practitioners emphasise that while infant feeding is a natural process, it is a learned skill requiring patience, and local mothers can easily access trusted advice through the official website and dedicated community networks.
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