Sir, As a mother, I can vouch that the Government leaves us new mothers in little doubt of the advice: we are overwhelmed with leaflets regarding the benefits of breast over bottle long before our babies arrive and the hospital midwives are known to refuse to assist with bottle feeding at all (“Most mothers ‘ignoring breastfeeding advice’ ”, May 15).

Doesn’t the fact that 76 per cent of mothers start out breastfeeding but only very few manage the full six months rather suggest that most mothers are not “ignoring” the advice, but simply struggling to follow it? Breastfeeding for many can be physically and emotionally demanding. Perhaps our nanny state should focus more on providing support for breastfeeding mothers during the first six months – the only real support available is from charitable organisations such as the National Childbirth Trust – and we might find that the statistics improve.

SUZANNAH HENDERSON

London

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