An article by Naomi Coleman (famail.co.uk)

The first ever breast-feeding helpline has been launched offering free advice and information to new mothers.

The National Childbirth Trust's new resource aims to provide instant help and support to new mothers - many of whom are leaving hospital without adequate knowledge of breast-feeding.

There is mounting evidence that breast-feeding protects against common infections and  allergies in infancy. Recent studies also show that breast milk protects children against high cholesterol and blood sugar levels in later life. But feeding a new baby is a skill that has to be learned and many women have great difficulty in finding the advice and reassurance they need.

Lack of advice on problems such as cracked nipples or breast rejection by the baby lead many mothers to switch over to formula milk.

But according to the NCT, 89 per cent of women who stopped breast-feeding at six weeks wished they had continued.

'There's a huge lack of cultural and social understanding of breast-feeding in this country,' said Rosemary Dodds, from the National Childbirth Trust.

'Women are giving up breast-feeding because they are simply not getting enough information on what to do when leaving hospital’.

The NCT insists women suffer a severe lack of knowledge of mastitis (inflammation of the breast), which drugs to take when breast-feeding, positioning the baby correctly, how often to

breast-feed and when to start the baby on solids. The new breast-feeding helpline will allow mothers to discuss their problems with a qualified counsellor.

Local experts will provide information, put them in touch with other mothers and even make home visits if necessary.

Contact the Breast-feeding line on 0870 444 8708, from 8am to 10pm. Calls are charged at the national rate.

From an article in the daily mail

Fathers-to-be are to be given lessons on breastfeeding and supporting their partner through childbirth, ministers will announce this week.

A long-awaited families green paper will propose measures to get fathers more involved in their child's upbringing from before birth and beyond.

These include forcing single mothers to name the biological father on the birth certificate and encouraging hospitals to allow fathers to stay overnight after the birth of a child. The paper is aimed at seizing the initiative from David Cameron, who has made tackling family breakdown a flagship policy.

The Tory leader has repeatedly called for fathers to be more closely involved with their children and has attacked 'deadbeat dads' for abandoning their responsibilities. Under Labour, the number of unmarried couples living together has shot up by two thirds and the number of single parent families has risen by 8 per cent. But Labour now wants to counter criticism that it has been too focused on mothers' rights by putting fatherhood at the centre of its social policy. As well as being offered more access to ante-natal lessons from midwives and health visitors, every new father will be given a 'New

Dad's Guide' that will include an explanation of breastfeeding and tips on supporting their partner

Rob Williams chief executive of the Fatherhood Institute which helped compile the report.

It follows research that shows mothers are twice as likely to continue breastfeeding if their partners have had a one-hour lesson before the birth about its benefits.  And studies reveal that fathers involved at birth are far more likely to stay involved in the first three years, and on through childhood and adolescence.

Around 45,000 children are registered in Britain every year without the name of their father.

From next year fathers who refuse to be named on the birth certificate or mothers who do not record the father's name will be liable for a £200 fine.

However, mothers will not have to name the father if 'it is not possible, practical or advisable'. Schools Secretary Ed Balls and Health Secretary Andy Burnham will host a summit later this week with health visitors, midwives, charities and new dads about offering better advice to fathers.

In an interview with BBC1's Daily Politics, Mr Balls admitted:

'We haven't done enough in the past to support dads and their role in childbirth in the months and weeks beforehand, even though we know this is the most vulnerable time for a couple’.