Breastfed children are less likely to be overweight. Photo: Shutterstock

Lack of support from a partner, the family or appropriate facilities at work are just a few of the barriers that prematurely stop women breastfeeding their babies.

Women should continue breastfeeding till the age of six months but only 38 per cent of Maltese women do so, Health Parliamentary Secretary Chris Fearne said yesterday while launching the National Breastfeeding Policy consultation document.

Inadequate knowledge, feeling embarrassed about doing it in public, negative perceptions and society’s attitude were other factors that discouraged mothers.

The consultation document – the proposed policy is meant to cover the period 2014 to 2020 – aims to build on the target set in the 2000 National Breastfeeding Policy of securing 90 per cent exclusive breastfeeding on discharge from hospital and 80 per cent at four months old.

Mr Fearne admitted that one of the hardest challenges was to bring about and implement a change of lifestyle.

“Breastfeeding should be seen as something natural and the norm. We want to ease the pressure on women to use formula powder,” he said.

The policy forms part of a government strategy to tackle obesity as research has proven that breastfed children are at lower risk of being overweight. “Giving formula milk to babies puts them at a higher risk of being fatter. We still have people who think that obesity isn’t a problem or that it is ok to consume a lot of soft drinks or not exercise,” Mr Fearne noted.

The draft policy incorporates all facets of society: the community, health professionals, family and the workplace.

Health Promotion director Charmaine Gauci said one of the objectives was for women to continue breastfeeding and use the appropriate complementary foods until their child is two years and even beyond. It would also look into why women stop breastfeeding.

However, the draft document does not oblige mothers to breastfeed “as putting undue pressure on them to do so is as unacceptable as putting undue pressure to opt for formula feeding”.

It calls for breastfeeding-friendly policies and facilities at the workplace and public areas.

Women who are less likely to breastfeed, such as immigrants, adolescents, single mothers and those with a lower level of education, need to be identified and be given “particular support and information”.

Dr Gauci said a monitoring committee would be set up to ensure implementation, set targets and investigate and, if necessary, prosecute breaches of the law.

It would ensure there is legislation to facilitate working mothers who want to exclusively breastfeed up to six months and to continue beyond for as long as they wish.

The government drafted a law to prevent the inappropriate marketing of breast milk substitutes through regulating the promotion and use of free samples in public and private healthcare.

Feedback on the consultation document – available on www.ehealth.gov.mt – will be accepted until August 31.