Seanad debates

Tuesday, 2 December 2003

Maternity Protection (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage.

 

2:30 pm

Photo of Mary WhiteMary White (Fianna Fail)

While I am not trying to be awkward, I wish to draw attention to a problem. I do not know how a woman can work and breastfeed at the same time. It is an impossibility and would be very detrimental to the mother's health. I breastfed my daughter for seven and a half months and I do not know how a woman could work and breastfeed.

Figures produced by La Lèche League show that Ireland has the lowest percentage of mothers breastfeeding in Europe. Why is this the case? I was the only one out of 20 in my prenatal class in 1970 who breastfed. At that stage I thought every mother breastfed. There is something radically wrong in our culture. Breastfeeding is the greatest way for a mother and child to bond. As life is hard enough and we all have our trials and tribulations, we should all encourage mothers to breastfeed. In Ireland 31% of mothers breastfeed at birth in comparison to 98% in Denmark, 97% in Sweden and 69% in the UK.

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