Eamon Ryan TD, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources along with celebrity mums Jenny Kelly, Tatianna Ouliankina and Blathnaid Ni Chofaigh, launched this year's National Breastfeeding Week at the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin. Organised by the Health Service Executive, the focus of this year's National Breastfeeding Week is on raising awareness of the various support services available for mothers who are breastfeeding or considering doing so.

To support National Breastfeeding Week, the Health Service Executive has produced the Breastfeeding Support Network Card - a wallet-friendly card providing information on where and how help and support can be accessed by breastfeeding mothers. The cards will be available in maternity hospitals, HSE health promotion departments and health centres, GP surgeries and selected pharmacies and retail outlets nationwide. Women seeking information are also encouraged to visit http://www.breastfeeding.ie.

Recent research carried out by the Health Service Executive shows that emotional support from a partner, being shown how to breastfeed in hospital and being provided with information on where to seek help are regarded as the three most important forms of support for mothers who are newly breastfeeding their babies. The research also indicates that just over half of mothers who choose to breastfeed do so for at least three months; with over a third breastfeeding until their babies are six months old or older.

The research was carried out on mothers of children aged under five years. Ireland has a relatively low rate of breastfeeding with around 50% of women breastfeeding on leaving hospital following the birth of their child, compared with rates of up to 99% in other countries. Earlier this year, however, the HSE's Breastfeeding Strategy Implementation Committee (BSIC) launched a campaign to increase breastfeeding rates by 2 per cent a year. The five-year Strategic Action Plan for Breastfeeding includes better hospital and community breastfeeding services for mothers. At the launch Eamon Ryan TD, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, said "breastfeeding is not just a lifestyle choice; it is a very important health issue for babies, their mothers and families. It is also a social, economic and environmental issue that has positive implications for our society and its future."

Speaking at the launch of National Breastfeeding Week, Catherine Murphy, Assistant National Director, Population Health, Health Service Executive and Chair of the NBSI committee said "the research findings emphasise just how important support and information are for mothers who choose to breastfeed. The Breastfeeding Support Network Card has been developed to ensure that women who are breastfeeding or considering breastfeeding will know just where to seek support, particularly in the weeks following the baby's birth."

Maureen Fallon, National Breastfeeding Coordinator said "the HSE research reveals that over 55% of women who choose to breastfeed do not seek further support, either at the hospital or once they go home. We hope that resources such as the Breastfeeding Support Network Card will make it easier for new mothers to access the support services and breastfeeding groups around the country, should they need to." To mark this year's National Breastfeeding Week, a series of events will take place around the country to inform people about the health benefits of breastfeeding for mother and baby, and society generally. The campaign is being supported by voluntary breastfeeding groups such as La Leche League of Ireland and Cuidiú-Irish Childbirth Trust.

Breastfeeding offers numerous benefits to both mother and baby. Babies who are breastfed are less likely to suffer from ailments such as gastroenteritis, respiratory, urinary tract and ear infections, asthma, eczema and childhood diabetes. Mothers also benefit from breastfeeding, with lower risks of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis later in life.

Speaking at the launch, Mary Bird, Assistant National Co-ordinator for breastfeeding support group La Leche League, said "we encourage women to make contact with their local breastfeeding group during their pregnancy so they can learn about breastfeeding and feel more confident in their ability to breastfeed before baby arrives."

Rebecca McLaughlin, PRO of Cuidiu said "support and Information are so important in the early days of breastfeeding. We do need an increased awareness of voluntary groups so that Mums know that there is always someone to listen; either on the phone or face-to-face at the many breastfeeding support groups around the country."

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