‘Important to break down barriers’ say midwives on World Breastfeeding Week
By RCM on 31 July 2017 Breastfeeding Women Midwives MSWs - Maternity Support Workers World Breastfeeding Week
Today (August 1st) marks the start of World Breastfeeding Week 2017 and this years theme is sustaining breastfeeding together.
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is supporting this years week of awareness which runs until Monday August 7th.
Commenting, Claire Livingstone Professional Policy Advisor at the RCM says; “The RCM is happy to once again support this global initiative which promotes and raises awareness of the benefits and advantages of breastfeeding.
“Marking this week the RCM believes is vitally important in helping to break down the barriers that women, as mothers, face on a daily basis, both in the UK and across the globe. We believe that providing evidence based information to women will better assist them in making the best choice for them when it comes to breastfeeding.
“There has been significant and reliable evidence produced over recent years to show that breastfeeding has important health advantages for both mother and baby, breastfeeding is known to positively impact on mother-baby relationships as well as nurturing maternal and infant mental health.
“Breastfeeding can also make an enormous contribution to public health and midwives alongside maternity support workers (MSWs) are the key health professionals to deliver this. However, we must ensure there are enough midwives in post so women get the right level of advice and support before they leave hospital in order to initiate and sustain breastfeeding successfully.
“As a society we must continue to develop a culture of positive support for women who wish to breastfeed and educating the public is key to this. Women should not feel guilty or embarrassed about breastfeeding in public. The Equality Act 2010 makes it illegal for anyone to ask a breastfeeding woman to stop breastfeeding, or cover up or leave a public place, such as a cafe, shop or public transport.”