Ms Deborah Byrne:

I thank Senator Hoey for her questions. On antenatal training, in a report we found 21% of mothers said the lack of such training through hospitals was a roadblock and that many women wanted to know about the challenges of breastfeeding. I appreciate it is a fine balancing act because if all people hear are the challenges, that will be less appealing and people will not learn about the amazing benefits and rewards of breastfeeding, not just for the baby but also the mother. There are long-term physical health benefits as well as emotional benefits.

I am in a WhatsApp group with several other mums and all of us said that we would breastfeed to six months. Due to lockdown we have been at home with our babies for a lot longer and are extending breastfeeding until our children are one or two years old. That is in line with the WHO recommendation to breastfeed to two years of age. I had such a difficult start that it has been a real privilege to breastfeed my son for that long.

Women need to know about the realities of breastfeeding, and realise that when things are not working it is not just them and help is available. Often difficulties require very simple solutions and IBCLC could assist them. There may be difficulties with positioning. Ms Rea and Ms Cahill are much more expert on this than we are.

Senator Hoey referred to the WHO code. It is not an area we have researched. The Baby Feeding Law Group Ireland, BFLGI, has done a lot of work on that and I recommend talking to it. One mother in our report referred to formula being handed around like cups of tea in the hospital. There seems to be a very heavy reliance on formula and anecdotally we have heard that is because midwives are very busy. Given that establishing breastfeeding can sometimes take a lot of time, formula is a much easier way to ensure they know babies are being fed. We need to examine staffing in order to make sure midwives have time to help women one and that there are lactation consultants whose specific role is to address challenges as they arise. Like Ms Cahill, I cannot remember everything else the Senator said.