"Breastfeeding Friendly" Premises

 

Concern associated with breastfeeding in public (such as embarrassment, and negative public attitudes) have been identified as one of the key barriers to breastfeeding. An important element of the UNICEF Breastfeeding Friendly Initiative is to provide women with information about places in the locality where breastfeeding is known to be welcomed. Our local project has been set up to encourage more businesses to become Baby Friendly and promote breastfeeding on their premises.

 

Breastfeeding offers significant health related benefits for women as well as babies. However, despite the overwhelming evidence, the UK's breastfeeding rates are one of the worst in Europe. Recent findings from a local survey showed that women reported there were few places outside the home where they felt comfortable breastfeeding, and they worried about receiving negative remarks from members of the public.

 

Breastfeeding mothers want to know where they can go and feed in comfort, safe in the knowledge that they will not be asked to leave, or made to feel unwelcome. Whilst a small number of women would prefer to use a dedicated breastfeeding room, many simply want to be able to breastfeed discreetly in public, and not made to feel uncomfortable.

 

We want to encourage local premises and businesses to be Breastfeeding Friendly as part of our work across Blackpool, Fylde , Wyre, Lancaster and Morcambe to gain the baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) Award for the NHS and Children Centres see here for details of this award.

 

To be "Breastfeeding Friendly" your staff and the premises would be required to comply with a set of basic standards. A certificate and a sticker to display prominently on the premises will be awarded to acknowledge this and demonstrate that breastfeeding mothers are welcomed.

 

New mothers will be made aware of which local premises are displaying the sticker by health professionals, children.s centres and local groups. Details will be updated on a regular basis on an established web page (set up to support/communicate information on the BFI project). Press coverage of the work, and details of local premises who have signed up to the scheme is intended.

 

In order for us to find out your views about becoming "Breastfeeding Friendly", we would be very grateful if you could answer a survey email jbarlow@wyrebc.gov.uk for a pack or request an electronic copy of the form by emailing comms@nwnwbabyfriendly.org.uk.

 

We look forward to hearing from you soon.

 

Kind regards

 

The Baby Friendly Initiative Project Team in Blackpool and North Lancs