Soaring numbers of new mothers are breastfeeding, figures show.
More than eight in ten women start their babies on breast milk compared to six in ten in 1990.
The proportion is even higher among middle-class women with well-paid jobs – more than 90 per cent of mothers in managerial or professional roles breastfeed.
The rise follows years of high profile government ‘breast is best’ campaigns promoting the benefits of breast milk over formula milk.
Breast-feeding transfers a mother’s immunity to her baby, helping to protect it from chest and ear infections, eczema and stomach bugs.
Studies have also shown that it helps babies’ brain development and reduces their chance of becoming obese when they grow up.
Figures from the NHS Information Centre show that 81 per cent of mothers in the UK breastfeed for at least the first six weeks, up from 76 per cent in 2005 and 62 per cent in 1990. More than 90 per cent of those in professional or managerial roles, such as doctors, lawyers or senior managers on companies, breastfeed.
This compares to 74 per cent of those in routine or manual jobs – such as cleaners or those working on supermarket checkouts – and 71 per cent of women who have never worked.
Teenage mums are also far less likely to breastfeed than slightly older women.
Breast is best: The study comes days after hundreds breast fed their babies in a 'flashmob' awareness raising exercise at The Trafford Centre in Manchester
Just 63 per cent of women under 16 breastfeed compared to 87 per cent of those over the age of 30.
The figures, based on a survey of 15,600 women, do not show how many are still breastfeeding six months after the baby is born – as advised by the Department of Health – but it is likely to be significantly lower. They also showed that the numbers smoking during pregnancy had fallen significantly in last five years.
Just 12 per cent of mothers smoked throughout their pregnancy in 2010, down from 17 per cent in 2005.
Jane Munro, from the Royal College of Midwives, said: ‘The increase in the number of women starting to breastfeed and the reduction in smoking before and during pregnancy is good news for the health of the nation. It is a clear indication of the success of campaigning on public health in these areas.
‘These are, however, early findings and do not give us the important information about how long women carry on breastfeeding.’
She added: ‘This is a crucial issue because we know that many women stop breastfeeding when they leave hospital.’
Marianne Monie, of support group the Breastfeeding Network, said: ‘Breastfeeding their baby is something we know is close to many mums’ hearts, and most babies in start off breastfeeding.
‘The last survey from 2005 told us that, sadly, the vast majority of women who stopped breastfeeding in the first six weeks wanted to carry on for longer.
Miss Monie added: ‘We want to see women fully supported with skilled help to breastfeed for as long as they want to continue.
‘Breastfeeding is not just good for mothers and babies but because breastfed babies are ill less than babies fed infant formula, supporting mothers to breastfeed can also save the NHS money.’
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Breastfeeding boom: Middle-class mothers lead the charge with 90% rejecting formula milk
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