Scottish Breastfeeding Awareness Week, which took place 18-22nd June, was a great opportunity to promote the findings of a recent survey which gathered people’s views on breastfeeding in the Outer Hebrides. Over 500 people completed the survey which was commissioned by the Western Isles Maternal and Infant Nutrition Group (MIN), a partnership with members from NHS Western Isles, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and Third Sector organisations.

More than nine out of ten respondents rated the importance of support from partners and families in order to make breastfeeding a positive experience highly (92%), indicating that everyone has a part to play in supporting breastfeeding. It was encouraging to note that the majority of respondents felt that they had support from health professionals, both in hospital and the community.

The right to breastfeed in a public place is not well known – around 60% of respondents were unaware of the Breastfeeding (Scotland) Act 2005, which states it is against the law to try to stop or prevent parents from feeding their child under two in public. One parent commented “I am so pleased there is a breastfeeding law, this gives my child the same rights as everyone else – she can feed in public too.” In the survey, 65% of people felt comfortable breastfeeding in a public place, with An Lanntair, the Woodlands Centre, Adventure Island, Stornoway Library, Stepping Stones and Storehouse Cafe at Lews Castle highlighted as being particularly welcoming to mothers wishing to feed their child on their premises. Well done to these places!

Colin Gilmour, Chair of the MIN group said, “Our thanks go to Natalie Dixon and Kirsty MacDonald, from Robert Gordon University, who undertook this important piece of work for us. The full results are already informing our future plans”.

One of the aims of breastfeeding awareness week is to reassure new mothers that they can produce more milk than one baby will need, as women across Scotland have expressed concern over this. Feeding your baby responsively helps your body to produce the right amount of milk for your baby’s needs. Breast milk is recognised as being ‘best for baby’: in addition to containing all the vitamins and nutrients your baby needs in the first six months of life, breast milk is packed with disease-fighting substances that protect your baby from illness.

But let’s not stop there – there are health benefits for mum too! Breastfeeding from birth helps the womb return to normal size more quickly after birth and is also known to lower the risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, ovarian cancer osteoporosis (weak bones), heart disease and obesity. Breastfeeding is also very convenient and environmentally friendly, with no need to use cans or bottles of formula milk or sterilising equipment. It also provides love and comfort when your baby needs help to settle or when upset or unwell. Sometimes a mum just wants to rest, cuddle and feed her baby.

For more information on local breastfeeding support, please contact your local health visitor.

For further information about the Western Isles Maternity & Infant Nutrition Group, please contact Colin Gilmour, tel. 762017 or email colin.gilmour@nhs.net