City bottom of breastfeeding list

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/merseyside/7101601.stm

Version 0 of 1.

Liverpool has the lowest number of breastfeeding new mothers, according to a new survey.

An average of 65% of mothers who have given birth within the last 12 months breastfeed their children - a rise of 30% over the last 30 years.

Plymouth has the highest rate of breastfeeding among new mothers at 78%, compared to Liverpool at 48%.

Vicki Scott, a baby-feeding advisor, said breastfeeding still needed to be made more "socially acceptable".

More than 2,000 people were surveyed in the poll on behalf of baby feed manufacturers Philips Avent.

About 92% of all mothers surveyed said they believed that breast milk was the healthiest way to feed their baby, with 47% saying they felt it was the easiest option for them.

'Confusing options'

The survey said women felt that breastfeeding still needed to be made more socially acceptable.

But Miss Scott, an advisor to Philips Avent, said that the results showed a significant shift in positive attitudes towards breastfeeding.

She said: "Breast milk is the perfect food for a baby.

"It is easily digested, resulting in less tummy aches and diarrhoea and also has lots of antibodies and growth hormones - it rounds off the baby's immune system."

More people are also combining breast milk with bottle feeds but Miss Scott said that many women remained confused about the options.

She added: "Women are getting inconsistent advice and their support service is minimal."