5. Will the Minister provide an update on breastfeeding rates? OAQ53582

Whilst rates in Wales have remained static over recent years, the Welsh Government remains committed to increasing the uptake of breastfeeding. A national work programme has been established, involving clinicians, service leads, Public Health Wales and other stakeholders, including, of course, women themselves, focusing on improving breastfeeding rates in maternity and early years settings.

I appreciate that you fully understand the importance of breastfeeding for the long-term health of both mother and baby from your previous answers, but we are starting from a low base, are we not, as 71 per cent of mothers in Wales initiate breastfeeding compared to 83 per cent in England. And we know that only 1 per cent of mothers breastfeed exclusively for six months in Wales. And I think what I wanted to explore with you now are really the social barriers to women breastfeeding, because it isn't just about ensuring that they have the best professional support; it is about ensuring that they get the support from their families and from the wider community.

I do recall vividly the research that was presented in the Assembly a couple of years ago from Cardiff University who'd done research in a Newport Communities First area about the resistance from both family members and also from the public when people were endeavouring to breastfeed in a cafe or a restaurant. And I am delighted to see that Newport has now got the Newport Breastfeeding Welcome premises scheme, which tackles this issue of ensuring that people understand that this is a perfectly normal activity. So, I wonder if you could tell us, since that was launched a year ago, what success it's had, if there's any sign of improvement in breastfeeding rates in Newport, and whether there are any plans to roll that scheme out across Wales so that we can ensure that all premises serving food are welcoming to breastfeeders.

I couldn't tell you about the figures on outcomes from the Newport project, but I'll happily look at it. I realise that that's an issue that has been raised in the Chamber by our colleague Jayne Bryant. But I think that, in many ways, the most important term used there was about 'normal', and breastfeeding is normal and the challenge is that it has been denormalised in lots of situations. Now, that's part of our challenge, you're right, about parents, the wider family, friends, work and social settings, for this to be seen as exactly as it is: it's an entirely normal activity and one that we want to encourage and to renormalise in areas where it isn't. But, more than that, I'll have some more to say about the work we're doing within Government. I'm looking to publish some of our reports and recommendations that will come to me in May, June this year, but, on the specific point about Newport, I'll happily look at it and come back to update on if there are early findings that would help us in our work nationally.FootnoteLink

Information further to Plenary

Breastfeeding is a critical campaign tool that the Welsh Government should be promoting across all newborns' mothers. I'm someone who wants to join in that campaign—my wife, a former midwife, obviously knows the benefits of that. But the one thing we lack is a workforce of midwives in the Cwm Taf health board area that is fully manned, if you like, with midwives there to help expectant mums. We know that Cwm Taf have had problems; we know Cwm Taf has the lowest take-up rate of breastfeeding of all the health board areas. Can you update us today, Minister, as to what the staffing arrangements will be amongst midwives in the Cwm Taf health board area in light of Healthcare Inspectorate Wales's comments yesterday? Because, as I'm led to believe, there are still gaps and there are still vacancies, and we can talk all we want about the positives around breastfeeding, but, if you haven't got the midwives in place, then that support that expectant mums would require is just not going to be there.

I recognise the points the Member made, following the report that was published following the unannounced inspections that Healthcare Inspectorate Wales undertook in October of last year. Some immediate actions were taken and they have recruited more staff into the midwifery service within Cwm Taf. And it's important to recognise that this isn't just about the point at which people give birth, it's actually about the support and encouragement given beforehand. And, again, midwives are a really important part of that. But, actually, there are many other drivers around whether people are prepared to initiate, and then continue, breast feeding as well. So it's about how different parts of our system work together, as well as, as I've said, the social drivers too. I can say that my expectation is that Cwm Taf will be Birthrate Plus compliant—they will have the right number of midwives, for the births that are expected, to do their job, both within the community and within the way in which we are rearranging midwifery and maternity settings as well.