Breastfeeding by age of baby and local health board

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Standard shorthand is used in this table: [x] = not available, [z] = not applicable.

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Data description ( of 2 selected2 selectable options)

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Year ( of 10 selected10 selectable options)

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Area ( of 11 selected11 selectable options)

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Age of baby ( of 5 selected5 selectable options)

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Breastfeeding Status ( of 5 selected5 selectable options)

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Data valuesData descriptionYearAreaAge of babyBreastfeeding Status
20,049Number2024WalesIntentionTotal
12,622Number2024WalesIntentionBreastfeeding
6,945Number2024WalesIntentionNot breastfeeding
482Number2024WalesIntentionNot stated
19,567Number2024WalesIntentionRecords with valid data
26,944Number2024WalesBirthTotal
15,923Number2024WalesBirthBreastfeeding
8,942Number2024WalesBirthNot breastfeeding
2,079Number2024WalesBirthNot stated
24,865Number2024WalesBirthRecords with valid data
26,819Number2024Wales10 daysTotal
13,503Number2024Wales10 daysBreastfeeding
10,067Number2024Wales10 daysNot breastfeeding
3,249Number2024Wales10 daysNot stated
23,570Number2024Wales10 daysRecords with valid data
27,067Number2024Wales6 weeksTotal
9,434Number2024Wales6 weeksBreastfeeding
11,946Number2024Wales6 weeksNot breastfeeding
5,687Number2024Wales6 weeksNot stated
21,380Number2024Wales6 weeksRecords with valid data
27,476Number2024Wales6 monthsTotal
6,975Number2024Wales6 monthsBreastfeeding
14,508Number2024Wales6 monthsNot breastfeeding
5,993Number2024Wales6 monthsNot stated
21,483Number2024Wales6 monthsRecords with valid data
5,169Number2024Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardIntentionTotal
3,146Number2024Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardIntentionBreastfeeding
1,975Number2024Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardIntentionNot breastfeeding
48Number2024Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardIntentionNot stated
5,121Number2024Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardIntentionRecords with valid data
5,582Number2024Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardBirthTotal
3,401Number2024Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardBirthBreastfeeding
2,025Number2024Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardBirthNot breastfeeding
156Number2024Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardBirthNot stated
5,426Number2024Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health BoardBirthRecords with valid data
5,524Number2024Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board10 daysTotal
2,683Number2024Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board10 daysBreastfeeding
2,538Number2024Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board10 daysNot breastfeeding
303Number2024Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board10 daysNot stated
5,221Number2024Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board10 daysRecords with valid data
5,606Number2024Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board6 weeksTotal
2,244Number2024Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board6 weeksBreastfeeding
3,201Number2024Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board6 weeksNot breastfeeding
161Number2024Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board6 weeksNot stated
5,445Number2024Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board6 weeksRecords with valid data
5,771Number2024Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board6 monthsTotal
1,589Number2024Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board6 monthsBreastfeeding
3,786Number2024Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board6 monthsNot breastfeeding
396Number2024Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board6 monthsNot stated
5,375Number2024Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board6 monthsRecords with valid data
175Number2024Powys Teaching Local Health BoardIntentionTotal
149Number2024Powys Teaching Local Health BoardIntentionBreastfeeding
25Number2024Powys Teaching Local Health BoardIntentionNot breastfeeding
1Number2024Powys Teaching Local Health BoardIntentionNot stated
174Number2024Powys Teaching Local Health BoardIntentionRecords with valid data
914Number2024Powys Teaching Local Health BoardBirthTotal
531Number2024Powys Teaching Local Health BoardBirthBreastfeeding
112Number2024Powys Teaching Local Health BoardBirthNot breastfeeding
271Number2024Powys Teaching Local Health BoardBirthNot stated
643Number2024Powys Teaching Local Health BoardBirthRecords with valid data
908Number2024Powys Teaching Local Health Board10 daysTotal
399Number2024Powys Teaching Local Health Board10 daysBreastfeeding
184Number2024Powys Teaching Local Health Board10 daysNot breastfeeding
325Number2024Powys Teaching Local Health Board10 daysNot stated
583Number2024Powys Teaching Local Health Board10 daysRecords with valid data
915Number2024Powys Teaching Local Health Board6 weeksTotal
374Number2024Powys Teaching Local Health Board6 weeksBreastfeeding
294Number2024Powys Teaching Local Health Board6 weeksNot breastfeeding
247Number2024Powys Teaching Local Health Board6 weeksNot stated
668Number2024Powys Teaching Local Health Board6 weeksRecords with valid data
934Number2024Powys Teaching Local Health Board6 monthsTotal
215Number2024Powys Teaching Local Health Board6 monthsBreastfeeding
244Number2024Powys Teaching Local Health Board6 monthsNot breastfeeding
475Number2024Powys Teaching Local Health Board6 monthsNot stated
459Number2024Powys Teaching Local Health Board6 monthsRecords with valid data
2,740Number2024Hywel Dda University Local Health BoardIntentionTotal
1,915Number2024Hywel Dda University Local Health BoardIntentionBreastfeeding
806Number2024Hywel Dda University Local Health BoardIntentionNot breastfeeding
19Number2024Hywel Dda University Local Health BoardIntentionNot stated
2,721Number2024Hywel Dda University Local Health BoardIntentionRecords with valid data
2,913Number2024Hywel Dda University Local Health BoardBirthTotal
1,996Number2024Hywel Dda University Local Health BoardBirthBreastfeeding
889Number2024Hywel Dda University Local Health BoardBirthNot breastfeeding
28Number2024Hywel Dda University Local Health BoardBirthNot stated
2,885Number2024Hywel Dda University Local Health BoardBirthRecords with valid data
2,918Number2024Hywel Dda University Local Health Board10 daysTotal
1,571Number2024Hywel Dda University Local Health Board10 daysBreastfeeding
1,038Number2024Hywel Dda University Local Health Board10 daysNot breastfeeding
309Number2024Hywel Dda University Local Health Board10 daysNot stated
2,609Number2024Hywel Dda University Local Health Board10 daysRecords with valid data
2,944Number2024Hywel Dda University Local Health Board6 weeksTotal
1,116Number2024Hywel Dda University Local Health Board6 weeksBreastfeeding
1,245Number2024Hywel Dda University Local Health Board6 weeksNot breastfeeding
583Number2024Hywel Dda University Local Health Board6 weeksNot stated
2,361Number2024Hywel Dda University Local Health Board6 weeksRecords with valid data
3,017Number2024Hywel Dda University Local Health Board6 monthsTotal
880Number2024Hywel Dda University Local Health Board6 monthsBreastfeeding
1,676Number2024Hywel Dda University Local Health Board6 monthsNot breastfeeding
461Number2024Hywel Dda University Local Health Board6 monthsNot stated
2,556Number2024Hywel Dda University Local Health Board6 monthsRecords with valid data
Showing 1 to 100 of 4,609 rows
Page 1 of 47

Next update expected:July 2026

Updates

19th December 2025
Dataset first published.

Main information

Designation
Accredited official statistics
Data provider 1
Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW)
Data source 1
Maternity Indicators Dataset (MIDS)
Data provider 2
Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW)
Data source 2
National Community Child Health Database (NCCHD)

Overview

Summary of dataset and variables

Number and percentage of babies breastfed by age of baby broken down by local health board.

These statistics are derived from two data sources: the Maternity Indicators dataset where a mother’s intention to breastfeed prior to birth is recorded and the National Community Child Health Database (NCCHD) where data for breastfeeding at birth and for babies turning 10 days, 6 weeks and 6 months is recorded and refers to records where there was any breastfeeding.

Both data sources are provided to the Welsh Government by Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW).

The Maternity Indicators dataset combines records from a mother’s initial assessment with a child’s birth record. The Maternity Indicators dataset allows us to analyse characteristics of the mother’s pregnancy and birth process, of which ‘intention to breastfeed’ is one.

The NCCHD was established in 2004 and consists of anonymised records for all children born, resident or treated in Wales and born after 1987. The database brings together data from local Community Child Health System databases which are held by local health boards (LHBs), and its main function is to provide an online record of a child’s health and care from birth to leaving school age. The statistics used in this release are based on the data recorded at birth and shortly after birth.

Full details of every data item available on both the Maternity Indicators dataset and National Community Child Health Database are available through the NHS Wales Data Dictionary

Data collection or calculation

Data from the Maternity Indicators dataset only includes initial assessment data where the initial assessment and birth both occurred in the same health board, in Wales only.

Births to Welsh resident mothers who gave birth in England or in any other country outside of Wales are not included in the intention to breastfeed data.

Data for each calendar year refers to when the baby was born. The NCCHD includes records of all children born in, resident in or receiving services in their relevant local health boards. This means the database contains some information for some children not currently residing in Wales; however, unless otherwise stated, all statistics produced from data sourced from this database is filtered to only include those children born in Wales.

Data on breastfeeding at birth, 10 days, 6 weeks and 6 months refers to the time period in which the activity occurred, rather than when the child was born.

The percentages are of the total number of records with stated breastfeeding status.

The total number of records for percentage calculations at each point are:

  • the number of women due to give birth for 'Intention to breastfeed'
  • all live births for 'birth'
  • and of babies turning the reference age for all other age points.

The NCCHD records both live and stillbirths, however this analysis refers only to live births.

Statistical quality

The Maternity Indicators dataset and NCCHD are live databases, meaning health boards can amend data for any period.

For the statistics in this release, DHCW take data extracts from a single point in time, for the latest calendar year. Welsh Government will not make revisions to historical data unless errors are discovered.

Breastfeeding data at all points in time are subject to data quality issues as some mothers and babies have incomplete records.

Breastfeeding data at 10 days, 6 weeks and 6 months is collected when the children have health visitor and GP appointments through the Healthy Child Wales Programme. If a child does not receive a contact, their breastfeeding data may be missing at that contact point.

The completeness rate decreases with the age of the baby and in 2024, was as follows:

  • 98% for intention to breastfeed
  • 92% at birth
  • 88% at 10 days
  • 79% at six weeks
  • 78% at 6 months.

A completeness table for all data items used in this release from both data sources is available in the quality report.

Aneurin Bevan have not provided correctly recorded data for the intention to breastfeed data item in 2024 so have been excluded from the intention to breastfeed analysis. All health boards are included for the other age points.

From 1st April 2019 health service provision for residents of Bridgend local authority moved from Abertawe Bro Morgannwg to Cwm Taf. The health board names changed to Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board and Swansea Bay University Health Board. Data for Abertawe Bro Morgannwg and Cwm Taf are available for previous years in this table.

More detailed information on the sources of data and analyses in this statistical release are provided in the quality report.

Related reports

Published by

Organisation
Welsh Government
Contact email
stats.healthinfo@gov.wales

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