MIDWIVES from York Hospital are backing this year's National Breastfeeding Awareness Week by putting up colourful displays in the maternity unit.

Health visitors from the hospital will also spread information on the importance of breastfeeding throughout the awareness week, which ends on May 17.

The campaign is part of the Government's commitment to promote breastfeeding as the best form of nutrition for infants.

It is aimed at young mothers and mothers-to-be who are least likely to breastfeed.

This year, the campaign is calling on the help of all those people who play a key role in influencing breastfeeding mothers, including partners, family and friends, to be actively supportive.

Margaret Jackson, head of midwifery at York Health Services NHS Trust, said: "It is so important that mums-to-be get support from those people closest to them.

"This kind of encouragement makes a real difference to whether a woman takes up breastfeeding, and how long she continues for.

"We will be putting up colourful and informative displays in the main corridor of the hospital and in the maternity unit.

"These will highlight the campaign's key messages and the benefits of breastfeeding.

"In conjunction with this, midwives and health visitors working in the local community will be helping to spread the message."

The campaign's key messages are that breastfeeding is convenient, normal, natural and the healthiest option for mother and baby.

Babies fed on breast milk have a lower risk of gastro-enteritis, respiratory, urinary tract and ear infections, developing eczema and wheezing.

In the long-term, a breastfed baby is likely to be more intelligent and have less incidence of childhood diabetes, obesity and a range of other health conditions.

Mothers have a lower risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer, ovarian cancer and hip fractures. They can also get back into shape more quickly.

Updated: 08:36 Monday, May 12, 2003