I think rhe figures are like 23% Bf at 6mths then less then 1% up to 2 yrs. I have myself put a submission into the inquiry. They are up on the website (about 100 of the over 400 they have recieved) if anyone wasnt to look. Sorry don't have the link direct but its somwhere on www.aph.gov.au  the comittee for health and aging did it. they are despite the deadline still taking submissions so anyone can write about thei experience.  Did you know mummabear that it is against the MAIF agreement to supply mothers with samples of fomrula. Doesn't stop them doing it and teh MAIF cannot be legally inforced (it is voluntary) but health pros can still get into lots of trouble expecially with their superiors.

ABAs submission is up on the ABA website. It is interesting that most of the submissions be it from mothers or health professionals all say basically the same thing about needing support for new mothers.

lets hope that the inquiry does some goo for breastfeeding rates in Australia.

When my daughter went to the child health nurse for her 2 month needles, the nurse noticed i was feeding her when she called in the woman before me.  By the time it was my turn she had finished her feed.  The nurse then took her in, gave her the needles (which broke my heart!) and I immediately offered her the breast and a cuddle for comfort and to reassure her that even though she went through some pain just then I was still there to give her love and comfort.  When we went in to talk about her progress, she again took to the breast for the 3rd time in half an hour.  The nurse told me she wasn't getting any satisfaction from the breastmilk and offered me formula.  I didn't have a lot of support, but was determined and knew the benefits of extended breastfeeding as I had done a lot of reading through the pregnancy.  She told me that both her daughters were formula babies and they formula feed their kids too so it's good for them to have that if the mother is struggling with breastfeeding.  I wasn't struggling, she just needed it more often that day for comfort due to the fact she endured those painful needles and didn't know what it was! Many people who had babies when I did gave up breastfeeding before 3 months and thought I was from another planet.  Their comments were that the child health nurse told them they weren't coping and gave them free formula to see how baby went with it.  I went on to breastfeed until my baby self-weaned at 2.5 years.

When my son was born we had no end of problems with feeding - I was very persistent and with the right help we finally succeeded at about 5 weeks old.  Most people I saw could not understand why I was so persistent and said "just give up and bottle feed" - including the so-called lactation experts I saw.  I can understand why so many people give up when they have issues and the attitude is "just give up" - very few nurses etc... seem to be able to help when there are issues.

We fed until he was 21 months old and self weaned.  Most of my friends gave up at six months if not before and I was the only one to persist past 12 months.  It seems to be the unspoken rule that it is not the done thing to feed a toddler.  Now that I'm a member of the ABA and attend meetings I know I am not abnormal and it is OK (in fact very good)!  Interestingly, many of my friends didn't even make it to six months with subsequent children as it was just "too hard" or "too tiring".  I don't find it that way and will keep going with number 2 until she is ready to give it up (not any time soon)!