British Government to Pay Breastfeeding Mothers!

£10 weekly vouchers plan for mothers who breast-feed
By Rachel Sylvester
The three prescriptions for a healthier national service
MOTHERS could be paid to breast feed their babies under proposals being considered in the Government's NHS review. They would be given vouchers - probably worth about £10 a week - to buy specified healthy foods such as grains, bread, fruit or milk. The tokens would be targeted at poor women with children under six months, who currently receive grants for baby milk powder.

Experts advising the Government on public health believe that a financial incentive to breast feed should be introduced because natural milk is better for young babies than powder. Ministers are concerned that low income and badly educated women are less likely to breast feed than better off mothers.
Health Department research, to be published during Breast-feeding Week next month, shows that the three groups least likely to give their babies natural milk are those in their late teens, mothers in their early 20s and women who cease full time education at or before 16.
Breast-feeding vouchers were discussed at a recent consultative conference on welfare foods, sponsored by the DoH. The most likely option is to extend the vouchers already given for milk powder to mothers who choose to breast feed. The alternative is to level the playing field by removing the baby milk vouchers, but this would be unpopular and is likely to be resisted by ministers.
A briefing paper produced by the Maternity Alliance after the meeting read: "While women using the scheme should not be penalised for artificial feeding they should be supported and rewarded for breast-feeding." The proposal is being promoted on the "prevention action team" by Julia Neuberger, of the King's Fund, a think tank specialising in health policy.
It will put the issue of breast feeding - highlighted by the ban on women MPs feeding their babies in Commons committees - back on to the agenda. DoH sources said the Government would examine closely "ideas however radical" when recommendations are made.
According to the National Childbirth Trust, babies who are breast fed for the first three months are less likely to end up in hospital with infections. It is estimated that two thirds of women start breast-feeding their babies, although there are wide variations according to social class, age and area. About 90 per cent of mothers in the top social class avoid artificial milk, compared to 50 per cent in the lowest category and 47 per cent of single mothers.
The proposal for vouchers was welcomed by the Royal College of Nursing. Jane Naish, policy adviser in public health, said: "Women on low incomes lose out financially if they choose to breast feed. A scheme that offers a financial incentive could be really helpful in increasing breast feeding rates but it needs to be backed up with work to get a more positive view of breast feeding in society generally."
Mary Newburn, head of policy for the National Childbirth Trust, said she was "cautious" about the use of financial incentives while Patti Rundell, of Baby Milk Action, called for the Government to remove the subsidy for artificial feeding.
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In my life I now have room
to nourish a babe within my womb
and to my arms a welcome nest
and comfort waiting at my breast.

An it harm none, and cause none strife
my belly to swell and ripen new life
a babe to grow strong within me
as I will, so mote it be!

Breastfed for 13 months!

Guest

so does this only apply to mothers who are on a low income/income support, that really annoys me, we do right yet we cant have any help either.. silent

Yes it is typical really, but I think alot has changed sinse they first looked into it Smile

_________________
In my life I now have room
to nourish a babe within my womb
and to my arms a welcome nest
and comfort waiting at my breast.

An it harm none, and cause none strife
my belly to swell and ripen new life
a babe to grow strong within me
as I will, so mote it be!

Breastfed for 13 months!

Joined : 09 Jul 2007 Posts : 39

Well, I think it's wonderful!!!!! Very Happy

I am not sure on when its happening, I am going to do some diging I think!

_________________
In my life I now have room
to nourish a babe within my womb
and to my arms a welcome nest
and comfort waiting at my breast.

An it harm none, and cause none strife
my belly to swell and ripen new life
a babe to grow strong within me
as I will, so mote it be!

Breastfed for 13 months!

Joined : 11 Aug 2007 Posts : 46

Its got to be a good thing if it encourages more mothers to breastfeed. However I agree it would be nice if all breastfeeding mums could recieve the money regardless of their income x
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