More than half of Leicestershire babies breastfed last year
More than half of Leicestershire babies were breastfed at some point in the last year, according to figures from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities.
The data, released in the run-up to Baby Week, which runs from November 14 to 20, and celebrates its tenth year in 2025, shows that 54 per cent of infants in the county were breastfed at least some of the time during 2024.
Figures are collated from infants six to eight-week health visitor reviews, and are broadly in line with a year earlier.
Nationally, breastfeeding increased to 56 per cent in 2024, and is the highest reported figure since records began in 2015.
The data for Leicestershire shows that 37 per cent of 6,333 infants in the county were totally breastfed, 18 per cent were partially breastfed and 43 per cent were not breastfed at all, with these figures based on reported findings from health visitors.
Breastfeeding rates varied significantly across the country, ranging from 32 per cent in Blackpool, up to 83 per cent in Windsor and Maidenhead.
Separate figures showed that 94 per cent of infants in Leicestershire completed successful six to eight-week health visitor reviews, up from the 93 per cent the previous year, and above the national average of 85 per cent.
Chief midwifery officer for England Kate Brintworth said: "It’s fantastic to see that more new mums than ever are being supported by the National Health Service to breastfeed their babies.
"As a midwife, I know that breastfeeding has lots of benefits for mums and babies.
"I also know that breastfeeding can take time to get the hang of, so I want to encourage all mums who want to breastfeed to speak to their midwives and health visitors for advice whenever they need it."
A Department for Health and Social Care spokesperson said the Government was "working to improve regional disparities on breastfeeding across the country."