Network of breastfeeding support
IN 2024, AGF became member of network of breastfeeding support within the “‘Healthy start to life’ network” (Netzwerk “Gesund ins Leben”). The network that brings together institutions, professional societies and associations to jointly promote early childhood health – from pregnancy to infancy. The network is primarily responsible for communicating the German government’s national strategy for the promotion of breastfeeding.
Together with its partner institutions, the ‘healthy start to life’ network shares expertise with all those who advise on breastfeeding, as well as providing information material for families. The 44 members of the network of breastfeeding support play an important role here, with their diverse points of contact with young families: professional associations, funding agencies, self-help organisations, advisory institutions, political actors and communication experts work together to reach as many pregnant women, nursing mothers and young families as possible. With joint and coordinated communication measures, they are pursuing the goal of sustainably improving breastfeeding-friendliness in Germany. This is one of the objectives of the National Strategy for the Promotion of Breastfeeding, adopted by the German government in 2021, which aims to structurally improve the framework conditions for breastfeeding.
Background
Only 40 per cent of mothers exclusively breastfeed their babies until the end of the fourth month, although almost 90 per cent of pregnant women want to breastfeed [1 Brettschneider A-K et al. Stillverhalten in Deutschland – Neues aus KiGGS Welle 2. In: Bundesgesundheitsblatt – Gesundheitsforschung – Gesundheitsschutz 2018; 61: 920–925]. Reasons for this include a lack of knowledge and a lack of advice and support during this important phase of life. Pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers ideally receive support in a wide range of places: The gynaecologist’s practice, midwife and maternity clinic provide breastfeeding information during pregnancy. After the birth, the hospital focuses on individual support for a good start to breastfeeding and promoting bonding. From the postnatal period until the end of the breastfeeding period, expert midwives, health and paediatric nurses, paediatricians, health professionals from the early childhood support network and breastfeeding counsellors are on hand to support women with their expertise. Just as family counselling centres, mother-child classes, parent cafés and pharmacies are also points of contact and can provide information and support. All women benefit from this, regardless of their social background and personal resources.