Mothers are being given advice on breastfeeding their children for up to two years to improve their nutrition and health this week, as part of World Breastfeeding Awareness Week.
This year's international awareness week is concentrating on continued breastfeeding, giving other foods after six months, and making the transition from exclusively breastfeeding to breastfeeding and eating with the family.
The event runs from August 1 to 7 and is organised by La Leche League, an international organisation which aims to provide education and support for breastfeeding mothers and to promote breastfeeding as important for the healthy development of children.
In Cork, the Southern Area Health Service Executive's Unified Maternity Service is running an information day as part of the awareness week.
The day, entitled `Breastfeeding and Family Foods', will give breastfeeding mums help on how to supplement breast milk after the first six months of their child's life.
A number of professionals, including a midwife, a lactation consultant, dietician, consultant paediatrician, and a representative from La Leche League, will be speaking at the information day.
It will be held at the College of Midwifery, St Finbarrs Hospital, Cork on Thursday, August 4 from 10am to 4pm.
Rebecca O' Donovan, lactation consultant with the Unified Maternity Service, HSE Southern Area, said one of the challenges was to provide other foods so they added to the nutritional contribution of milk, rather than replacing it.
"Breast milk continues to be an important source of nourishment for children after the first 6 months of life, particularly when mothers continue to practice breastfeeding, whilst giving other foods.
"Our information day will give breastfeeding mums information and ideas about the kinds of other foods and drinks needed by older breast-fed babies and young children after 6 months," she said.
The Department of Health and Children in Ireland, along with the World Health Organisation and Unicef, recommends mothers feed their children exclusively on breast milk for the first six months, followed by continued breastfeeding for up to two years and beyond.
PA