Press release

Statistical press notice: Breastfeeding and Smoking

Data shows slight increase in the breastfeeding initiation rate.

• From: Department of Health and Social Care
• Published: 18 August 2011

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

The following statistics were released today by the Department of Health:

Indicators on breastfeeding and smoking

Quarter ending June 2011

The key points from the latest release are:

• The breastfeeding initiation rate was 74.3 in 2011/12 Quarter 1, a slight improvement on 2010/11 outturn (73.7% ), 2009/10 outturn (72.7%) and 2008/09 outturn (71.7%).
• The prevalence of breastfeeding at 6-8 weeks in 2011/12 Quarter 1 was 45.6% of all infants due a 6-8 weeks check, largely unchanged from the figure of 45.4% recorded in 2010/11 Q1.
• The percentage of mothers smoking at delivery in England was 13.2% in 2011/12 Quarter 1, lower than the 2010/11 outturn (13.5%), 2009/10 outturn (14.1%) and 2008/09 outturn (14.4%).

Full tables on breastfeeding and smoking can be found on the Department for Health website.

Published 18 August 2011