The number of new mothers breastfeeding their babies has fallen for the first time since the government began collecting statistics> Breastfeeding has fallen in popularity with new mothers for the first time in a decade, according to official figures. The practice was adopted by 5,700 fewer women in England during 2012-13 than the year before, according to the Department of Health. It was the first time the number declined since the department started releasing figures in 2004. A total of 327,048 women were also not breastfeeding their baby by the time of their six- to eight-week check-ups, the equivalent of just under half of all new mothers. Department of Health guidelines recommend that mothers exclusively breastfeed their child until he or she is six months old. The Royal College of Midwives has raised concerns over the decline in promotion for breastfeeding, highlighting the need for 5,000 midwives and the dangers of NHS cuts in antenatal and postnatal care. Funding for National Breastfeeding Awareness Week, which has been promoting the acceptance of breastfeeding since 1993, was scrapped by the coalition in 2011. Louise Silverton, the RCM’s director of midwifery, told the Guardian: ‘Breastfeeding is no longer a public health issue. Under the previous government, there was a ten-year infant feeding strategy, but there is no such foundation and framework in place now. ‘There is now a lack of health promotion about breastfeeding. There is no longer a national breastfeeding coordinator to coordinate the country’s strategy or a national strategy, while Wales and Scotland have strategies. Indeed, this government is “hands off” regarding breastfeeding.’ Health services minister Dan Poulter said, despite the recent dip, figures had risen since 2010 and the government was promoting the benefits of breastfeeding. ‘We have pledged to increase the number of health visitors by 4,200 by 2015, and there are now over 1,000 more since May 2010. We have also increased the number of midwives by nearly 1,400,’ he said. From Metro