Media Release:

The Baby Feeding Survey Results are In!

Recently Mum Zone and Lorraine Cuadro (our resident breastfeeding expert conducted a survey asking readers to share their experiences and opinions on breastfeeding and bottle feeding. A big thank you to the 1,200+ readers who responded!

The survey results are now in and Lorraine has compiled this very interesting report about what you had to say...

Baby Feeding Survey Report
In looking at the survey results I noticed some really interesting patterns. Many of the comments that people left indicated that they felt mums should have the right to choose how they feed their baby without feeling pressure; some comments were very strong and full of emotion. Most came from a space of feeling judged.

As you know I am passionate about breastfeeding but I believe that a great mum is a great mum regardless of how she feeds. I look forward to a time when motherhood and the unending love we all have for our children unites all mums without the divide of breastfeeders and bottle feeders.

Breastfeeding Survey Results
So here are the percentages that stood out the most; 93% of respondents had tried to breastfeed and of this 87% are still breastfeeding. 33% found it easy, 32% found it difficult but ok once breastfeeding was established. 51% of mums sought help 3 or more times and 67% of these sought help from a midwife, 43% from a chid health nurse and only 11% from a doctor. Of the 87% of mums that breastfeed, 67% did not feel pressured to breastfeed. Of the group that did feel pressured most of the pressure came from their midwife, with family at a distant second, and 60% felt pressure in other aspects of parenting.

Of the 87% that started out breastfeeding 8% are now exclusively formula feeding, with 22% on a combination of breast milk and solids and 6% on a combination of breast milk and formula. 21% stopped breastfeeding between 6-12 months and 20% stopped after their baby’s first birthday. 32% of mums stopped breastfeeding because they felt that they had breastfed for long enough and 31% felt that their supply had dropped too much to continue breastfeeding.

72% of breastfeeding mums felt that breast milk and formula are not the same with 52% preferring to use donor breast milk over formula if the two are equally affordable and available. 52% felt that formula should only be given if there is no other option, 66% felt that mum had a right to choose to formula feed. 69% felt that breastfeeding was very important and 22% felt it was important. 88% of breastfeeding mums felt that they were not treated unfairly due to the fact that they were breastfeeding. And 86% were happy with their feeding choices.

Bottle Feeding Survey Results
7% of respondents bottle fed from birth and 65% of these mums choose to bottle feed. 55% felt that it was an easy decision to make even though 67% of bottle feeding mums felt pressure to breastfeed, with 47% of the pressure (again) coming from mid wives. 52% did not feel pressure in other aspects of parenting. Of the 7% of mums that bottle fed from birth 48% felt that they didn’t have enough breast milk with 20% feeling that breast milk would not be more beneficial than formula and 13% had breastfeeding difficulties with a previous child.

71% of mums said that their decision to bottle feed was not due to the lack of breastfeeding information or support. 62% of mums felt that breast milk and formula are the same and 63% would not consider donor milk if it were as accessible and affordable as formula. 34% felt that breast feeding was not important, followed by a close 28% feeling it was somewhat important. 58% of bottle feeding mums felt that they were not treated unfairly due to bottle feeding, while 42% felt that they had. Still, 78% were happy with their choices in feeding their baby and 81% felt supported in bottle feeding.

Thank you again to everyone that contributed to our survey, we appreciate your honesty and your openness in sharing your experiences with us. No matter what society or the people around you say, I hope that you do not feel defined by the way you feed your baby, we are all mums and it would be great if we could all support each other in the choices we make for our children.

Mum Zone Release Date: 15th September 2009

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