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mothers and babies, including less gut and respiratory infections and reduced hospital admissions in breastfed babies. Studies also suggest breastfeeding may have a positive impact on a baby's IQ. Mothers who breastfeed have reduced breast cancer risk, as well as developing a strong bond with their baby and burning extra calories which can help them lose baby weight. "Women do have experiences when they're breastfeeding out and about which are far from perfect because our culture isn't as supportive of breastfeeding as many other Western countries. But breastfeeding is natural and normal, and mothers should be allowed to feed their babies wherever they want," says Baum. "There's a huge public health benefit to have more babies breastfeeding, and there's huge personal benefit for women who want to breastfeed to feel confident and comfortable to breastfeed wherever they are. It's incredibly important to get the message out there that women can breastfeed where they want, and they should just go for it."
On a practical level a maternity bra, baggy top and scarf are simple things women can do to breastfeed discretely in public. Julie Webb from the LLL Belfast group, encourages breastfeeding mothers to not be afraid and seek support from other mums. "We would suggest that mums meet their babies needs whenever they arise, so if they need to feed their baby on a bus, in a cafe or in church then that's what they should do. Often mums are feeding so discreetly that people don't even notice they are breastfeeding," she says. "There is a fear of breastfeeding in public among some mums but you often find those who are apprehensive initially grow in confidence. It takes a bit of practice. Our Belfast group holds a coffee morning on the third Friday of every month in IKEA, and it's an opportunity for mums to breastfeed in public surrounded by the support of other breastfeeding mums."
The experiences from the mothers who attend her support group have been largely positive. "Siobhan Corey, a group mum, was at the Waterfront Hall on Sunday and she was feeding her 20-month-old while awkwardly trying to climb some stairs and a lady got her a chair so that she could feed her daughter comfortably," recalls Julie.
* For more information about breastfeeding and giving babies a healthy start to life, visit Bestbeginnings.org.uk or Breastfedbabies.org which has been written especially for parents in Northern Ireland. To contact La Leche League Belfast visit https://m.facebook.com/LLLNI or telephone the helpline on 028 9581 8118.