Dissatisfaction at the lack of support and encouragement in the immediate post-partum period of mothers in hospital wishing to breast feed is expressed in their own words. Analysis indicates that mothers in the upper social classes are more likely to breast feed and that those who manage to sustain breast feeding for one week are likely to continue this method of feeding for at least six weeks and possibly for much longer. There is also evidence indicating that women who are encouraged during pregnancy to breast feed have a high success rate. Those responsible for supervising infant feeding need to be better educated in all its aspects.