Many Britons are unaware of the health benefits of breastfeeding for both the baby and mother, according to a poll released on Monday.

More than 91 percent of Britons do not know that breastfeeding for just one month has a lasting impact on the first 14 years of the child’s life and nearly half are unaware it cuts the risk of Osteoporosis and Ovarian cancer in the mother.

“We are concerned that many people do not realise that the benefits of breastfeeding start straight away. If more mothers knew this they would feel it was worth starting breastfeeding even if they are not sure about how long they will continue,” said Belinda Phipps, of the National Childbirth Trust (NCT).

According to the childbirth and parenting charity, research has shown that breast feeding for just one day is beneficial because it stabilises the baby’s blood sugars, protects its gut and provides natural antibodies against disease.

“Because the benefits start right from the first feed, any amount of breastfeeding is a reason to feel proud. This is especially important for the nine out of 10 women who stop breastfeeding before they want to, generally because of a lack of good information and support from those around them,” Phipps added.

In Britain, which has one of the lowest rates of breastfeeding in Europe, more than half of the 1,500 people who responded to the NCT survey knew doctors recommend that mothers breastfeed their babies for the first six months of their life.

But two thirds were unaware that breastfeeding early in life, even if it is not exclusive, provides protection against infections.

Studies have shown that when babies are breastfed for the first six months of life they grow better without getting too fat and are less likely to develop infections and allergies.

British researchers have also shown that breastfeeding has a beneficial impact on blood pressure and cholesterol levels later in life, which reduces the risk of Heart attack or Stroke.