NHS Ayrshire and Arran is celebrating National Breastfeeding Celebration Week all this week by ‘changing the conversation’ around breastfeeding.
Ruth Campbell, consultant dietitian in public health nutrition explained: “Breastfeeding is a major health issue that has the potential to greatly improve the health of our population; therefore it matters a great deal to us.
“Our aim is to remove any barriers that stop women who want to breastfeed from doing so and to make sure that women in Ayrshire feel supported to make their own decisions based on the best information and advice available.
“We recognise that the decisions mums make are shaped by other mums in their social circle and by society.
“If women see other mums breastfeeding in public and see that business owners and members of the public are welcoming of this, they will be more encouraged to do so themselves.
“If mums speak to other women about their real experiences of breastfeeding, it can remove fears, anxieties and unrealistic expectations.”
A social media campaign has been launched sharing mother’s real stories about how they found breastfeeding, challenging some of the myths and unrealistic expectations mums may have about breastfeeding by encouraging honest conversations. Look out for the #celebratebreastfeeding.
The Breastfeeding Network and the health board are working together on a ‘Breastfeed happily here’ initiative which asks business owners, employees and members of the public to display the ‘Breastfeed happily here’ sticker to let all customers know that breastfeeding is welcomed on the premises. Businesses must also ensure that its employees are aware of the scheme and The Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 legislation.
More than 180 venues across Ayrshire have already signed up to the scheme, including all NHS Ayrshire and Arran buildings, local authority offices and public transport buildings, as well as various cafes, restaurants, libraries and nurseries.
To find out which venues have signed up to the Breastfeed happily here campaign, or if you are a business owner who would like to display a sticker, please email ayrshire@breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk.
To provide parents with advice and support feeding their infants, NHS Ayrshire and Arran, together with other partners have funded The Breastfeeding Network to deliver support groups every day of the week across North, South and East Ayrshire.
Details of the times and venues can be found at www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/ayrshire.
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