It's designed to give babies the best chance in life but breastfeeding in public is still frequently frowned upon. Jenny Lee and Lisa Salmon report on steps being taken to allow mothers to feed their baby wherever and whenever they need to
YOUNG babies will cry for a feed at any time of day or night, and that's often when they're out and about with mum. If they're breastfed, that can mean feeding in a public place - but research has shown that a third (32 per cent) of nursing mums have been told to stop or move out of view.
While the 2010 Equality Act makes it unlawful for a business to discriminate against a breastfeeding woman in England, Scotland and Wales, the law doesn't apply in Northern Ireland, where breastfeeding women are at the whim of individual premises' rules and opinions on breastfeeding.
However, this could be set to change - the Department of Health has said it plans to consult on proposals about the introduction of legislation to support breastfeeding in public places in the next financial year. "A recent survey found that 62 per cent of respondents agreed that there should be a law in Northern Ireland to protect women who want to breastfeed in public and the department plans to consult on the introduction of such legislation, a spokesman said. "The intention of the proposed legislation is to provide mothers with supportive environment where they can breastfeed their children, with confidence and without intrusion. "It will also clarify the legal position and support businesses should a member of the public complain about a mother breastfeeding her child." Breastfeeding support group La Leche League (LLL) has welcomed this initiative. "It is unfortunate that such a law is required anywhere but anything that can be done to give mums more confidence when breastfeeding is certainly welcome. Breastfeeding rates are low at six months so if mums are able to breastfeed confidently in public they will breastfeed for longer which benefits baby and mum," says breastfeeding counsellor and LLL Belfast group co-leader Julie Webb.
While breastfeeding initiation rates in Northern Ireland have almost doubled in the past 20 years from 36 per cent to 64 per cent in 2010, they are still the lowest in the UK and among the lowest in Europe. And while more than half of all new mums here start breastfeeding, many quickly stop.
The fear of breastfeeding in public is thought to be one of the issues that contributes to most women stopping breastfeeding before the recommended six months, coupled with difficulties in latching the baby on to the breast, worries about milk supply, and sore nipples and breasts.
A recent survey by Freida's Feeding Food found that more than one in 10 mums had been told to feed their baby in a toilet, others had been told to sit in the corner, and more asked to stop altogether.
The study also found that two thirds of mums don't feel that society in Britain and the north supports breastfeeding, and only 26 per cent of mothers are comfortable feeding in public.
The Public Health Agency's Breastfeeding Welcome Here scheme is an initiative which aims to make it easier for mums to recognise places where they can breastfeed their baby when they are out and about.
Cafes, restaurants and shops have joined the scheme which ensures breastfeeding is acceptable in all areas of the business premises that are open to the general public; staff are supportive of the needs of breastfeeding mums and they will not be asked to move to another area or to stop breastfeeding.
One such business which is embracing the needs of nursing mothers is the Lyric Theatre in Belfast. "Our cafe is very popular with families and we welcome breastfeeding mums. We have registered with the Breastfeeding Welcome Here scheme and as soon as we're certified we'll be displaying the Breastfeeding welcome here window sticker," says their marketing manager Simon Goldrick.
Alison Baum, chief executive of the charity Best Beginnings, explains that breastfeeding has many health benefits for both
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