More than two-thirds of women in the Towns are giving up breastfeeding in the first few weeks after their baby is born.

A report to Medway’s health and wellbeing board shows breast-feeding rates drop dramatically by the time women have their post-natal check up at six to eight weeks after birth.

In 2015/16 just under 70% of women in the Towns initiated breastfeeding after delivery - lower than the rest of the south east which is 77%. By eight weeks just 22% of Medway mothers were still breast-feeding.

Wendy Brownrigg is a nurse, lactation consultant and health visitor in Medway. She said: “A mother-to-be’s ability to breastfeed will depend on the support she is offered, not just from health professionals but from family and the wider community.

“This requires supportive national and local policies, skilled health professionals, changes in public attitudes towards women breastfeeding in public and employment protection when returning to work while still breastfeeding.”

“A mother-to-be’s ability to breastfeed will depend on the support she is offered" - nurse Wendy Brownrigg

An open letter, signed by health visitors, midwives and GPs, recently described Britain as being in a “breastfeeding crisis”, caused by a lack of support.

It highlighted cuts to breast-feeding support services and called on the government to safeguard public health budgets.

In Medway, the council has cut £90,000 from the budget for health visits to newborn babies and their mothers from April.

Despite the cuts, an awareness campaign will be launched in Medway this year, working with the charity Best Beginnings which aims to end child health inequalities.

It will target groups within the population with the lowest breastfeeding rates.

Medway Community Healthcare is also working with the NHS to ensure all maternity staff and health visitors are given the same two-day breastfeeding training to support new mothers.

Ms Brownrigg said there are already a number of initiatives in Medway which offer help, including volunteer breastfeeding peer supporters and a weekly specialist clinic run by a lactation consultant, as well as groups such as La Leche League.

She added: “At Medway Community Healthcare we will continue to work with new parents to understand the reasons why Medway breastfeeding rates are low, and to ensure we provide education, support and understanding to those who need it.”