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This is a public and institutional call for action for the following;

 

 

1. Recognition of  BAA - that it affects breastfeeding mothers, maternal health and infant feeding, it effects weaning and potentially, therefore, exclusive breastfeeding.

 

 

2. The inclusion of older breastfed toddlers and children, and the mothers who breastfeed them into breastfeeding policy, perhaps then issues of BAA will become more prevalent and spoken about.  

 

Breastfeeding is a matter of public health and the policy focus on initiation and exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months are out of date, missing all the benefits of breastfeeding older infants, and the unmet need group of the mothers who do.  (See here for 'unmet need'.)

 

 

3. Research into BAA - including a case study by a health care professional, doctor or lactation consultant, a qualitative in-depth study looking at mothers lived experiences, and a quantitative study determining the prevalence or incidence (number of people in a population that experience the phenomena), and demographics of BAA.

 

 

 

4.Awareness raising - so that it is not a taboo subject so that a mother can actually admit openly that one doesn't like breastfeeding, or that it is difficult, or that she feels anger and then shame.

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5.To hold groups in the community where mothers feel safe to talk about BAA and get access to help and advice about strategies to help and minimise BAA while she experiences it.

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