Released on: 01 August 2016
Southampton has officially become a breastfeeding welcome city with an impressive 144 local venues signing up since the launch last year to support mothers to breastfeed comfortably while out and about.
Now, NCT and Southampton City Council are encouraging even more businesses to sign up as we enter World Breastfeeding Week (1–7 August).
The Southampton Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme is an initiative run by NCT, the UK’s largest charity for parents, and Southampton City Council. It aims to change attitudes towards mothers breastfeeding in public by facilitating greater acceptance and promotion of breastfeeding in the community.
The scheme is voluntary for businesses to participate in and demonstrates a commitment to providing a comfortable and non-judgemental environment for parents to feed their children in. Businesses have been issued with ‘Breastfeeding Welcome’ stickers to show new mothers they are welcome to feed their babies on their premises.
NCT Southampton Breastfeeding Support Service spokesperson, Rebecca Whitlock-Neill said: “The uptake of the Breastfeeding Support Scheme has been a huge success and is making a real difference to breastfeeding mums and to local businesses.
“It is important that parents’ feel reassured they have the support of organisations and their staff and won’t be judged when feeding, whether it’s by breast, bottle or in a high chair.
“Welcoming breastfeeding mothers and families can be great for businesses too as it means attracting new customers and retaining existing ones.”
Consultant in Public Health at Southampton City Council, Debbie Chase said: “The Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme is a great way to make it easier for women to breastfeed and it’s vital we continue to build on the work carried out so far in making Southampton a breastfeeding welcome city.
“Breastfeeding reduces the risk of infections and certain allergic conditions. It also reduces the mothers’ risk of type-2 diabetes and breast and ovarian cancer.
“We are encouraging more businesses in Southampton to sign up to the scheme with the NCT this week and to fly the flag that they are breastfeeding welcome if they are already accredited.”
Southampton businesses are encouraged to sign up to the Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme by emailing Rebecca Whitlock-Neill at rebecca.whitlock-neill@nct.org.uk
