Assembly says ‘Breastfeeding Welcome Here’

Parliament Buildings, the home of the Northern Ireland Assembly, has become the latest venue to sign up to the Public Health Agency’s (PHA) Breastfeeding Welcome Here scheme.

There are now more than 400 businesses, council facilities and popular local attractions part of the scheme, which aims to help make breastfeeding mums feel comfortable about feeding their baby in public.

Janet Calvert, Regional Breastfeeding Lead at the PHA, said: “Breastfeeding in public places can be a daunting prospect, especially for first-time mums. Breastfeeding Welcome Here aims to increase the social acceptability of breastfeeding in public by supporting mums who want, and need, to feed when out and about.

“Through the initiative we, and those organisations signed up to it, are helping mums feel more comfortable doing something which in actual fact should be viewed as perfectly normal and we are delighted that the Parliament Buildings has joined Breastfeeding Welcome Here.”

Businesses that have signed up to the scheme display a sticker and certificate in their premises to let mums know that they are welcome to feed in all areas and will not be asked to stop breastfeeding. Staff are also made aware that they are to be supportive of mothers on the premises.

The DHSSPS Strategy ‘Breastfeeding - A Great Start a Strategy for Northern Ireland 2013-2023’ includes key strategic outcomes which state that: “Supportive environments for breastfeeding exist throughout Northern Ireland” and “Government Departments and statutory bodies recognise the value of breastfeeding”.

The Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Chair of the Assembly Commission, Mitchel McLaughlin MLA, said: “Parliament Buildings welcomes around 80,000 visitors through its doors each year. It is important that we are able to demonstrate respect to those we represent by providing a friendly and welcoming visiting environment and experience for all. The fact that the Assembly has signed up to support the Breastfeeding Welcome Here scheme is another symbol of that. We wish the Public Health Agency well with this important initiative and hope that many more local organisations will join in supporting the scheme.”

Northern Ireland has the lowest breastfeeding rates in the UK and one of the lowest in Europe. Sixty-four per cent of mothers start breastfeeding compared with 81% in the rest of the UK, and by six weeks of age this reduces to 33% in Northern Ireland, compared with 55% in the rest of the UK.

Breastfeeding is an important public health issue as it can make a real difference to the health and wellbeing of both mother and child. Research evidence shows that breastfeeding provides many long-term benefits.

For children, breastfeeding reduces the overall risk of gastro-enteritis, chest, ear and kidney infections, childhood obesity, type 2 diabetes, childhood cancer and sudden infant death syndrome. Mothers who breastfeed are at a generally lower risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer and osteoporosis.

For a full list of members of Breastfeeding Welcome Here and tips and advice on feeding, visit the PHA website www.breastfedbabies.org