Breastfeeding Welcome here
The Glastonbury Health Centre Breastfeeding Welcome here is designed to reassure mothers that they will be able to visit our health centre for appointments or shop and go out to eat as normal, and therefore increase the likelihood that they will choose to breastfeed.
The purpose of this policy is to create an atmosphere within which a mother is able to breastfeed comfortably and confidently when visiting establishments and to support staff with consistent and clear guidelines.
Breastfeeding is the preferred method of feeding babies. It provides significant and scientifically proven health benefits for both child and mother, and these benefits increase the longer that breastfeeding continues.
Babies have small stomachs and digest breast milk very quickly. It is important to feed them when they ask for it. Crying, hungry babies and toddlers will usually very quickly calm down and become quiet when offered a breastfeed, which is beneficial to your other customers.
Some mothers choose not to breastfeed because they are worried about being able to breastfeed in public. The Breastfeeding Welcome scheme encourages mothers to feel comfortable about breastfeeding in public, knowing that they will be supported by the health centre even if another customer makes a complaint.
Breastfeeding mothers are protected in law. It is unlawful to stop a mother from breastfeeding her child.
Guidelines Given to our Staff
Breastfeeding mothers who visit our health centre should be supported by:
Staff responding positively, if appropriate and possible. Breastfeeding mothers really appreciate a glass of water and we have water fountains located in the waiting room of the health centre.
We will display the Breastfeeding Welcome window sticker on the main entrance.
If another person complains, advise them of the Breastfeeding Welcome scheme (and, if you wish) and if appropriate offer the complainant another seat. Remember, it is the complainant that should be offered another seat, the mother should not be asked to move.
ONLY if requested and if possible, provide the mother with an area where she may breastfeed in private or without being disturbed. It is not always possible to offer a private area, but an idea might include a corner of the surgery where the mother can turn away from the room.
Did you know?
Breastfeeding provides babies and toddlers with the optimum food for their growth and development. It is recommended that all babies receive nothing but breast milk for the first 6 months of their lives, and then breastfeeding should be continued alongside solids until the child is 2 years old or more. Babies who receive only breastmilk are less likely to develop infections like gastro-intestinal and respiratory conditions. Older babies and toddlers who continue to receive breastmilk also have these very significant health benefits.
Babies who are not breastfed have an increased chance of:
- Diarrhoea and vomiting and having to go to hospital as a result
- Chest infections and having to go into hospital as a result
- Ear infections and glue ear
- Developing eczema and asthma
Breastfeeding is good news for mums as:
- It significantly lowers the risk of mum getting breast and ovarian cancer
- It saves money – formula feeding costs around £450 – £500 a year
- It helps some mums lose their pregnancy weight more easily
If you would like to know more about the real benefits of breastfeeding then you may like to look at the UK Baby Friendly UNICEF website.
Local breastfeeding support:
Little Angels’ 24 hour helpline: 01924 851901
Little Angels’ website: Families and Babies
NCT’s breastfeeding line: 0300 330 0700 – open from 8.00am to 10.00pm 7 days a week.
Association of Breastfeeding Mothers breastfeeding line: 0300 330 5453 – 9.30am to 10.30pm or email counselling@abm.me.uk.
Breastfeeding Network – Drugs in Breastmilk Helpline – really useful if you need to take a medicine and you don’t know if it’s okay while breastfeeding: 0300 330 5469. See the Kellymom website.
Our health centre commits to:
- Displaying the “Breastfeeding Welcome” stickers on each entrance to the premises
- Ensuring that all staff are provided with the “Guidelines for Staff” information above and that this is displayed in a staff area
- Displaying the “Breastfeeding Welcome” policy, preferably in a customer area but as a minimum in a staff area
- Supporting the right for mothers to breastfeed within our premises by encouraging all staff to follow the “Guidelines for Staff”
- And agrees to our health centre details being promoted on:
- The NHS’s maternity and breastfeeding website https://www.pitterpatterchatter.org
- Wakefield NCT’s website (www.nct.org.uk/branches/wakefield)
- Wakefield Breastfeeding Welcome Facebook Group
