11 May 2009

New breastfeeding diet resource for National Breastfeeding Week

The British Dietetic Association (BDA) has launched a new free fact sheet on diet and breastfeeding in time to support National Breastfeeding Awareness Week 2009, helping mothers with an at-a-glance, reliable reference to support their decision to breastfeed.

The new BDA factsheet Breastfeeding: best for baby, written by paediatric dietitian and BDA spokesman Judy More, contains advice about healthy eating whilst breastfeeding, appropriate weight loss, foods to avoid or limit and supplements to take. For more details see www.bda.uk.com/foodfacts

According to Judy:  “Evidence from research consistently supports the fact that breastfeeding is the best start a baby can get and a recent review has shown that food allergies are less likely for a baby if mother continues to breastfeed during weaning. Therefore we should encourage all mothers to continue breastfeeding until their baby has been introduced to a wide variety of foods ideally until at least 9 months of age.”

The BDA also welcomes the launch of new growth charts to coincide with National Breastfeeding Week. Dietitians have been involved in the production of the new charts and are providing training sessions for members of their profession. All babies born from this week (11th May 2009) should be plotted on the new charts. Judy continues: “The new charts show the ideal growth pattern for breastfed babies. Previous growth charts have been based on the average growth of formula-fed babies and, since breastfed babies grow normally at a slightly slower rate from about 4-5 months of age, breastfed babies appeared to gain weight too slowly during the later months of their first year. Interestingly, this period of slower weight gain by breastfed babies may be one factor in preventing the risk of obesity in children.  We fully support the use of the growth new charts which will increase mothers’ confidence that their breastfed baby really is getting the best start to life and growing well.”

The BDA has a series of fact sheets designed to help people make sense of a whole range of nutrition issues, which are free to download at www.bda.uk.com/foodfacts

Media enquiries to the British Dietetic Association and requests for interviews with dietitians should be directed to our media hotline on 0870 850 2517 or pr@bda.uk.com

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Notes to Editors

  1. The British Dietetic Association, founded in 1936, is the professional association for registered dietitians in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.  It is the nation’s largest organisation of food and nutrition professionals with nearly 6,000 members. About two-thirds of members are employed in the National Health Service. The remaining members work in education, industry, research, sport settings or freelance.
  2. Registered dietitians hold the only legally-recognisable graduate qualification in nutrition and dietetics. They are experts in interpreting and translating the science of nutrition into practical ways of promoting nutritional well-being, disease treatment and the prevention of nutrition-related problems.  Their advice is sound and based on current scientific evidence. Registration, awarded by the Health Professionals Council, is an indication that a dietitian is fit to practise and is working within an agreed statement of conduct. For further details about the British Dietetic Association, please visit our website: www.bda.uk.com.

 

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