To celebrate Scotland’s National Breastfeeding Week, health and social care partners hosted a family fun event at Gartlea Community Centre, Airdrie.
The lively celebration provided an opportunity for new parents, families, community mums and partners to get together to share their experiences, offer support and raise the profile of the benefits of breastfeeding.
It was also great to welcome along some community mums. These volunteers are local mums who have knowledge and experience of breastfeeding having breastfed their own babies and have received additional training from the NHS Lanarkshire Infant Feeding Team. Their support to new mums and families is invaluable.
North Lanarkshire Council welcomes breastfeeding in all of its facilities and, together with our partners, continue to drive a shift in culture change with plans in place to improve breastfeeding rates by increasing breastfeeding facilities, making these more accessible and normalising breastfeeding.
Fifty percent of mums choose to breastfeed at birth, with 1 in 3 continuing after 6-8 weeks. Breastfeeding delivers so many health benefits to both mum and baby and supports the development of a positive mother-baby relationship and can improve the mental health and wellbeing of both mother and baby. We would like to build and improve on these rates and give babies the best start in life.
Councillor Gerry Brennan, Convener of Adult Social Work, Care and Wellbeing, said: “The council has produced an action plan that will positively impact across all aspects of community life. From taking the breastfeeding message into schools and designing our new community buildings to include breastfeeding facilities; to encouraging more businesses to seek accreditation and carry the Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland sign and supporting new mums who wish to continue to breastfeed on their return to work from maternity leave, we’re committed to increase breastfeeding rates.
“By working with our partners and our local communities, we aim to make North Lanarkshire a supportive and welcoming place where new mums breastfeeding feel comfortable and where people across the area can look forward to a healthy future.”
Barbara Harding, Health Improvement Practitioner, Airdrie Locality, added: “Our breastfeeding groups run across all local communities and offer a warm, welcoming and safe environment where pregnant women and breastfeeding mums can meet and support each other.
“You don’t need to be having a problem to come along to the breastfeeding groups, it’s a great way to meet other mums and pick up hints and tips. However, if you do have challenges on your breastfeeding journey, you will also have access to professional advice from fully trained staff to support and develop breastfeeding further.
“I’d encourage new parents to find out about the excellent support and facilities available in your local area.”
Together with our local communities and partners we can all work together to make North Lanarkshire a place where breastfeeding is the norm. We can all build a supportive community around families to nurture breastfeeding, encouraging more women to feel comfortable to breastfeed for as long as they want.