Rutherglen's MSP has called for more businesses in Lanarkshire to get behind a new scheme supporting and protecting the rights of mothers to breastfeed in public.
Clare Haughey's office has become one of the first businesses in Lanarkshire to join the Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland (BFS) Scheme being rolled out nationally by the Scottish Government.
It will replace NHS Lanarkshire’s former Breastfeeding Welcome initiative - and health chiefs hope it can build on the success of that initiative.
The new plan is particularly important in Lanarkshire, which has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in Scotland.
Around just half of mothers breastfeed at birth, but the figure drops from 50.3 per cent to 30.4 per cent after six to eight weeks.
Ms Haughey hopes the BFS strategy will help remove any stigma about women breastfeeding in public.
She told Lanarkshire Live : “I want to ensure that my constituency office and surgery venues in Rutherglen are an inclusive space for all staff, constituents and visitors, so it’s important this extends to babies who are being breastfeed as well.
"Finding a place to feel comfortable breastfeeding your baby can often make particularly new parents feel anxious and I want to do all I can to support this.
"The BFS scheme is a great idea and one we hope to see embraced by more organisations and public spaces across Lanarkshire."
In Scotland, babies are protected by law to be fed anywhere and it is an offence to prevent a baby being fed in a public place.
Wherever families see the BFS logo and signage, they know that staff are aware of their obligation under the law.
AnneMarie Bruce from NHS Lanarkshire said: “The NHS encourages responsive parenting and feeding, so our primary focus is to ensure that mothers and babies have the support they need, regardless of how they feed.
“UNICEF Babyfriendly found that 80 percent of women stopped breastfeeding before they wanted to. In Lanarkshire, our breastfeeding rates are currently below the national average and we want to normalise breastfeeding and create a supportive culture.
"We hope that by promoting safe environments for breastfeeding outside the home through the BFS Scheme, more women will feel comfortable and will continue to breastfeed for as long as they want.”
Businesses interested in joining the BFS Scheme can receive more information by emailing t hem here.
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