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Closed Change NHS Breastfeeding Guidelines to match WHO Breastfeeding Guidelines

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Many mothers who continue breastfeeding past 6 months are approached with stigma & "extended" (full term) breastfeeding is seen as taboo. Changing NHS guidelines to match those advised by the WHO will help rid the UK of this stigma & may help raise our country's poor breastfeeding rates.

Current NHS guidelines: Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for around the first 6 months of your baby's life. After that, giving your baby breast milk alongside other food will help them continue to grow & develop.

WHO guidelines: Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended up to 6 months of age, with continued breastfeeding along with appropriate complementary foods up to two years of age or beyond.

WHO guidelines are much clearer, & stating "up to two years of age or beyond" reduces the stigma & taboo of full term breastfeeding. All heath professionals agree that milk is of utmost importance to a child's development, what better milk to give than human milk.

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    If this petition gets 10,000 signatures, government will respond to it.

    If this petition gets 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

    This petition will stay open until 30 March 2015.