The Welsh Assembly Government’s Deputy First Minister, Ieuan Wyn Jones recently joined forces with mothers, babies, dads, grannies and health professionals to launch the new Gwynedd and Mon Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme booklet.
Mr Jones stated that breastfeeding is very important in terms of the health of our communities and yet it can be daunting for a new mum to venture away from home into her local town if she doesn’t know where she can go to feed her baby.
He added that the Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme was launched by the Welsh Assembly Government in 2006 to establish a network of supportive premises across Wales and congratulated the work that has gone on in Gwynedd and Mon which now has more places registered than the rest of Wales put together and is therefore a great role model for the rest of Wales.
Sharon Breward MBE Infant Feeding Co-ordinator, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board said that in 2005 a local survey of mothers in north west Wales revealed that their priority for encouraging mothers to breastfeed was a network of places they could confidently go with their babies.
“We are very proud to launch this booklet; our local scheme means that mothers in Gwynedd and Mon will now know that wherever they go in north-west Wales, this symbol means that they and their babies are assured of a welcome,” she added.
“The new booklet will be given to new mothers by their midwife or health visitor and will also be available in community locations including GP surgeries, clinics, libraries, leisure centres and many more.”
Lucy from Bangor, mum to two-and-a-half-year-old Carys and Luned, 10 months, thinks that the new booklet will be a great help to mums in the area.
“It’s always good to be able to go to somewhere that I know is breastfeeding friendly, particularly when out on my own with my two daughters,” she said.
The list of premises will be available on-line and updated regularly with new registrations, there will also be links to tourist web pages so that visitors can also benefit from our family friendly approach here in north-west Wales
What the Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme means for mothers:
* Breastfeeding must be acceptable in all areas open to the public;
* A mother who is breastfeeding will not be asked to move or to stop breastfeeding;
* Staff should be told about the scheme and how to be supportive to the needs of breastfeeding mothers
* The breastfeeding welcome logo must be displayed by the premises
Additional information:
Major public health contribution of mother’s milk/breastfeeding
Babies who receive their mother’s milk are protected from infections including:
* Gastro-enteritis*
* Chest infections
* Ear infections
* Urine infections
Children who were not breastfed are more likely to develop
* Childhood diabetes
* Childhood obesity
* Allergies and related illnesses such as asthma & eczema.
Mothers who breastfeed are less likely to develop
* Breast cancer,
* Ovarian cancer
* Osteoporosis
Environment
It has been estimated that 450 million packets and tins end up in landfill sites annually due to high bottle feeding rates in the UK
