Examination of Witnesses (Questions 80-83)
THURSDAY 6 MARCH 2003
PROFESSOR LESLEY
REGAN, MS
LYNNE PACANOWSKI,
MS CATHERINE
ECCLES, MS
BETTY LARKIN,
MS KAY
BARBER, MS
SELENE DALY
AND MS
CATHY ROGERS
Andy Burnham
80. I suspect breastfeeding rates vary quite
a lot across the country. In Warrington it is the exception rather
than the norm, the majority were not breastfeeding. What do you
think is the biggest driver of changing behaviour? I think the
fact that it is cheaper and more convenient, but I do not think
that people are getting that message. They seem to fixate on the
negatives.
(Ms Pacanowski) I think the message starts when they
are nine and 10 years old, maybe even earlier. It is what they
are used to, what they are exposed to and what is normal for them.
By the time they become teenagers they have probably made up their
minds what they are going to do.
81. Is that right? Do you not think it is something
they decide during pregnancy?
(Ms Pacanowski) Then there are three big areas which
will change their minds about it. One is during the antenatal
period when it is addressed all the time. Then on the labour ward
where they have that skin to skin contact for a certain period.
Then having the support postnatally. If you are really strapped
for staff you cannot give that time.
82. They get frustrated and give up.
(Ms Daly) We do get literature nowadays but it is
often the case that people do not read it. That is true in any
walk of life. I saw that there was a huge backing of breastfeeding.
It is very openly mentioned and you are made fully aware of it.
It is very well supported by the midwives. Sometimes it is just
verbal praise, telling the mother about the baby being better
protected because of the antibodies. That is far better than a
leaflet. Word of mouth is much stronger and that is endorsed by
the midwives in this particular unit. I think that is one of the
reasons why more of the women do it.
(Ms Larkin) I agree with everything that has been
said but I would like to say that we do not provide milk for the
babies. A lot of units do. We do not have milk on the premises.
They have to bring the milk in with them if they want to use it.
83. Do some units give birth packs out from
a chemist that have formula milk. I am pretty sure we had one
of those once.
(Ms Pacanowski) I would say that has been outlawed
everywhere.
(Ms Rogers) My final point relates to the comment
that was made something like at the birth centre we
had so many midwives and it seemed a bit much. I
have to say, when we look at the ratio of midwives to women it
was based on the recommendation of the Audit Commission of 1:34.
Chairman: Can I thank you all. You have given
us a very good start to this inquiry. We will obviously be bringing
this all together in a report which I hope will improve maternity
services across the country. Thank you very much.
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