NHS Dumfries and Galloway and partners are introducing an initiative called ‘The Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme’, aimed at businesses and their customers across the region.
The scheme aims to ensure breastfeeding mothers are able to feed their babies in a comfortable and welcoming environment without interruption, embarrassment or discrimination. And businesses who sign up to the initiative will receive a ‘Dumfries and Galloway is Breastfeeding Friendly’ window sticker and scheme certificate so breastfeeding mums can easily distinguish that a business is an inviting one for her.
Health and wellbeing specialist Veronica King said: “Breastfeeding offers considerable health benefits for both mother and baby and it is important that the community supports a mother in her decision to give her baby the best start in life. Breastfeeding mothers struggle at times to feed their babies comfortably in public; this is because breastfed babies are fed on demand and it is not always easy to find a suitable place to feed their baby. Many new mothers give up breastfeeding because they feel isolated and embarrassed that they may offend other people by feeding in public.”
She noted The Breastfeeding etc (Scotland) Act 2005 which states that it is against the law to stop a person feeding a child (under the age of 2) in a public place. Veronica added: “Mothers who are comfortable breastfeeding in a particular venue tend to return and word spreads easily through mother and baby groups that these venues are welcoming.”
Anyone interested in registering for the scheme should contact her by email at [email protected]
