MOTHERS here are lapping up the benefits of mother's milk.

A new survey shows more mums are choosing to breastfeed and for a longer period of time.

The survey by research firm The Nielsen Company found that 41 per cent of mothers interviewed were breastfeeding in their babies' first year, up from 30 per cent in a similar survey in 2006.

Those surveyed last year also breastfed for 4.5 months on average, up from the 3.3 months clocked by mothers interviewed in 2006.

Nielsen's executive director for consumer research, Ms Joan Koh, attributed the growing breastfeeding trend to higher awareness of its benefits.

'We are dealing with a better educated and affluent group of mothers, who are also more knowledgeable and well-informed about the benefits of breastfeeding,' she said.

'Mothers in Singapore want to provide their child with the best they can,' she added, citing a finding where 90 per cent of the respondents agreed their child should have the best in every aspect.

KK Women's and Children's Hospital has seen more mothers breastfeeding while in hospital, noted Ms Pauline Wee, its assistant director of nursing who oversees its obstetric wards.

She suggested that mothers could be continuing with breastfeeding for a longer time, possibly because of the Government's move last year to extend paid maternity leave to four months.

In last year's survey, inconvenience after returning to work was the second most common reason for mothers to stop breastfeeding before the child turned one, cited by 27 per cent of such mothers.

The top reason was insufficient supply of milk, experienced by 59 per cent of such mothers. Both findings were similar to those found in the 2006 survey.

Ms Wee said it would be good if mothers could breastfeed beyond the average of 4.5 months now, as it benefits both mother and baby.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that a mother breastfeeds her newborn for six months, without other sources of nutrition.

Subsequently, the mother should continue breastfeeding until the child is two years old, but supplement the breast milk with other food, the WHO advises.

Ms Aileen Tan breastfed her first son, now two years old, for eight months, and is now breastfeeding her second child, a 31/2-month-old son.

The 36-year-old homemaker said: 'I believe breast milk is the best. And actually it's convenient in that I don't need to sterilise milk bottles.'

Studies show breast milk strengthens a baby's immunity and reduces the risk of developing diarrhoea, pneumonia, allergies and childhood diabetes.

It also cuts the mother's risk of developing ovarian cancer by suppressing ovulation and reducing the number of menstrual cycles, thereby lowering hormone levels that can fuel cancer growth.

This article was first published in The Straits Times.