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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
National
Emma Grimshaw

This is why scores of mums were breastfeeding in Bristol city centre

This is the moment scores of mums came together to celebrate breastfeeding at a food festival in Colston Hall.

For the first time in Bristol Food Connection's history - and possibly at any UK food festival  -  a number of stalls were set up to offer support and advice around nursing.

BFC aims to celebrate the city's unique foodies scene and this year organisers decided it was time to include the area's youngest eaters in their line-up.

As well as a mass photograph of mums breastfeeding, there was also workshops and support groups.

Claire Tchaikowski who runs Human Milk, a company set up to teach people about the wonders of breastfeeding - helped organise the event.

She said: "There was so much love for want of a better word. It was so fantastic to see so many mums come together and just be there for each other.

"It's so important to keep raising awareness because the UK has some of the lowest rates in the world for breastfeeding.

"And sadly that number is so low because the support just isn't there for mums.

"Eight to nine mothers out of 10 who stop in the first six weeks say they stopped before they wanted to. The drop off in the first six weeks is about 50 per cent.

"My work isn't trying to persuade those who have made peace with not breastfeeding but it's for those who want to feed but haven't been able to.

"It's not about judging those who don't. As mums we seemed to get judged for whatever we decide to do. It's just about making sure those who need support, get it.

"It seems so obvious to have breastfeeding at a food festival and yet I don't think it's been done before. It was quite a revolutionary step."

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