Dear Lactnetters

No, France is not the worst. Median BF prevalence in France is 45% at birth,
with variations depending from the precise area (25% to 65%). It decreases
rapidly after, and only a few babies are always BF at 3 months. % à 6 months
is negligible.

The great problem we have here is France is the single country in Europe
where STRICTLY nothing is done for BF at a national level. No commitee for
BF, strictly nothing for the BFHI. We have recently the order for
application of a law (voted 4 years ago, but not applied !!!), against free
distribution of industrial milk by manufacturers in the maternity (the here
famous "milk rounds" ; free milk given to maternity, and bonus for every
baby to which the milk is given, and bonus to medical staff...) ... and
guess what ? There is a real outcry in medical press : the hospitals cannot
survive without the money of milk manufacturers, bonus and gifts are the
best interest of the mothers, pooooor mother cannot nourrish correctly
theirs babies, and so on... ARRRGGGGHHH !!!!

We have still lot of work to do here !
Kindly
Françoise Railhet
Manager of the LLL France Medical Associates Program
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