A survey of new mothers in Shanghai found that only 35 percent breastfeed exclusively, Shanghai Daily reports.
"We always encourage women to breastfeed their babies, and talk to them about it before and after birth," Dr Jin Hongmei from the obstetrics department at Zhongshan Hospital, told the paper. "Breastfeeding helps to boost a baby's immune system, and the earlier it starts, the bigger the benefit."
In a poll of 3,000 new mothers of infants aged up to 4 months, 65 percent said they used either a combination of breastfeeding and baby formula, or just formula. The study was conducted at maternity facilities in Changning District with the results released to coincide with National Breastfeeding Day.
Dr Sun Jianqin from Huadong Hospital said mothers should realize that breastfeeding is good for them as well as their babies, and shouldn't give up on it.
"According to research, about 70 percent of women who suffer from problems such as uterine myoma did not breastfeed their babies, or only breastfed them for a very short period of time," she said.
The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life.
Almost 70 percent of the over 20 million babies born each year in China are fed infant formula rather than breast milk. This might explain the popularity of breast milk soap on Taobao, as new mothers look to other avenues to use their excess milk.
[Image via Flickr]
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