A health chief is urging more West Dunbartonshire businesses to support breastfeeding by providing safe and welcoming spaces for mums and babies.
Laura Downie, health improvement practitioner for child and maternal health in the area, is calling on firms to sign up to be breastfeeding accredited.
A total of 32 local firms are currently signed up to the Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland (BFS) scheme, which aims to provide mums with positive experiences of breastfeeding when out and about and enable them to feel confident and supported.
It also aims to ensure organisations are aware of their responsibilities under the legislation.
Laura hopes the number of accredited firms will increase now that Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted.
She said: “Covid has really stopped the rollout nationwide.
“I would like that number to be higher, but due to restrictions, we haven’t been allowed to go out and about.
“We have had to send emails to businesses, but it maybe isn’t a priority for them especially when they are just getting back on their feet after Covid.
“It is to encourage businesses and organisations to support families.
“More so coming out of Covid because some families haven’t been out and about in the way that they normally would after just having a new baby.
“Over the next few weeks, we are going to be out to try and get as many businesses signed up as we can, which can hopefully increase numbers.”
Scottish Infant Feeding statistics for 2019/20 were published by Public Health Scotland, which found that overall breastfeeding rates were increasing in Scotland, mainly due to the rise in mixed breast and formula feeding.
However, Laura believes that there is still a lot more to be done to make breastfeeding more acceptable in the eyes of many in Scotland.
She explained: “Roughly 80 percent of mothers stop breastfeeding before they would like to.
“One of the reasons for that is breastfeeding out and about and the stigma that is attached to it.
“This scheme is trying to take away that stigma and normalise it, so people understand they’re welcomed.
“We have one of the lowest rates worldwide. It is really about trying to change the culture. I do notice that in some advertisements, like Aptamil where they say ‘50 years of breastmilk research’, is on during things like the football to target men.
“That is a problem we do come across because fathers feel like they need to feed their babies to bond with them.
“The brands focus on trying to compare themselves to breastmilk, and they try to make formula milk comparable with breastmilk by saying things like ‘50 years of breastmilk research’.”
“However, a representative from Danone – the company that owns Aptamil –has said: “We support all parents however they choose to feed their children, and are always clear that we support breastfeeding as best for babies.
“Based on 50 years of scientific research, we offer nutritional alternatives to breast milk for any parents who choose not to breastfeed or are in situations where breastfeeding is not possible.
“Feeding is just one of many ways in which parents and carers, including dads, can bond with their children.”
