BMJ  2004;328 (3 January), doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7430.0-d

Volunteer support does not change breastfeeding rates
Support from volunteer counsellors failed to extend the period during which
women breast fed. Graffy and colleagues (p 26) conducted a randomised
controlled trial of 720 women who planned to breast feed their baby. The
women were allocated either to additional volunteer support or usual care.
The duration of breast feeding was the same in both groups, and less than
two thirds of women were still breast feeding after six weeks. Many of
those who stopped breast feeding did not contact their counsellor, but
those women who did valued her support. The authors say that, particularly
in the first few days after the birth, provision of support for breast
feeding should be routine rather than depend on a call for help.

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