2024-07-24 09:55:38
July 24, 2024
The French public health department announced the results of the Epifane Early Childhood Nutrition Survey: more than 75% of children were breastfed in the delivery room, and 90% of them had a diversified diet in line with recommendations.
A large study of 3,500 mothers conducted by the French Public Health Service (SPF) in 2021 showed that young French mothers breastfed for longer and in greater numbers.
Increase breastfeeding time
In 2021, half of mothers breastfed their babies for 20 weeks, compared with 15 weeks in 2012.
In 2021, 77% of women breastfed in the delivery room, compared with 74% a decade ago. This rate exceeds the target of 75% set by the Fourth National Nutrition and Health Plan (PNNS). Later, at 6 months of age, less than a quarter of newborns in 2012 were still breastfed, compared with more than a third in 2021.
Despite these gains, France remains at the bottom of the European rankings. Breastfeeding is theoretically beneficial to babies’ health, especially their immunity. These benefits are particularly important in developing countries where the risk of infection is high and access to safe drinking water is limited.
Difficulties in balancing work and breastfeeding
For 76% of mothers who stopped breastfeeding at 2 months, the two main reasons were the convenience of the bottle (“including a desire to make fathers more involved”) and the perception of insufficient breast milk production (“breast milk production did not actually decrease” ). Newborn weight under observation”). More than half of the women cited other reasons: difficulty breastfeeding (57%), tissue problems and lack of time (54%).
The authors of the publication elaborate on the difficulties of reconciling working life and breastfeeding: “ Half of the mothers who are still breastfeeding at six months of age feed their children at least six times a day, making their situation difficult to reconcile with peaceful resumption of professional activities ”. The study also highlighted that “ Insufficient training for health professionals and employers to support women who wish to breastfeed “, also” Conflicting messages received about breastfeeding and feeding young children ».
Properly implement dietary diversification
The study also observed that recommendations for starting a varied diet (4 to 6 months) were well adhered to. ” More than nine in 10 children (91%) start eating a diverse diet within the recommended time frame in 2021, compared with 80% in 2012 », indicates publication. Only 4% of mothers started before this period. However, some foods, such as added fats, beans and eggs, should be consumed later than recommended by most mothers surveyed.
Notice: French public health authorities have designed guidelines Breastfeeding And in Food diversity For young parents and those around them.
Answers to all your questions on the website 1000-premiers-jours.fr
Learn more: Detailed results from the second edition of the Epifane survey
Source: “Young Child” Nutrition: What Has Changed in the Past 10 Years? Second edition of Epifane survey results/press release, Paris, 23 July 2024
Screenwriter: Helen Joubert; Editing by Emmanuel Ducloser
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