Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the NHS provides guidance to new Mothers on potential links between breast feeding and diabetes.

The main risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes is being overweight or obese. Breastfeeding is associated with greater postpartum weight loss and lower body mass index in the longer term for the mother. For infants, not being breastfed may also be associated with a greater risk of overweight or obesity later in childhood.

Women are advised to breastfeed exclusively for around the first six months of an infant’s life and to continue breastfeeding for at least the first year of life. Each makes an important contribution to infant and maternal health.

The Government continues to promote the importance of breastfeeding through various channels, such as the Start4Life campaign, the NHS Choices website (which has a dedicated Pregnancy and Baby guide) and the NHS Information Service for Parents; further information is available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/benefits-breastfeeding/