Dublin still has “lots of scope for improvement” after officially becoming a ‘Breastfeeding Friendly City’, an expert has warned.

Earlier this week, Dublin City Council (DCC) unanimously passed a motion by Green Party Councillor Hazel Chu that officially designated the city as Breastfeeding Friendly.

Councillors also agreed that officials should work with stakeholders to make women feel more comfortable while breastfeeding their children. 

Aisling O’Moore Cunningham from the La Leche League of Ireland - an organisation which supports mothers who want to breastfeed - said that the public perception of breastfeeding has slowly evolved in recent years.

“Attitudes have actually changed quite a bit over the years," she told Josh Crosbie for Newstalk Breakfast. 

“It was kind of a no-no thing back then; while many Mums often feel uncomfortable and feel unsure of themselves in the early days when they’re breastfeeding, it’s a much better environment than it was but there’s lots of scope for improvement.” 

A woman breastfeeding her baby. Image: Alamy Stock Photo

According to the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative, only 63.1% of babies born in 2021 in Ireland were breastfed - despite the known health benefits for both mother and baby. 

By comparison, 81% of British newborns are breastfed and 83% of Americans. 

Ms O’Moore Cunningham said change will only come about if society helps women who want to breastfeed. 

“We will continue having one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world if we don’t put in proper supports to support breastfeeders,” she said. 

“They need to feel comfortable when they’re breastfeeding, they need to not be discriminated against, they need to make sure there are proper facilities in place.” 

Breastfeeding within the first hour of birth, and exclusively for the first six months has lifelong benefits.

It is a baby’s best source of nutrition, promotes bonding and boosts brain development and immune systems.#WorldBreastfeedingWeek pic.twitter.com/1WirUk7abD

— UNICEF (@UNICEF) August 4, 2021

One mother who strongly supports the city council’s decision is Mags Stacey, who has a four-year-old boy and two-year-old girl. 

She feels her experience has been “overall really positive” but there were challenging moments breastfeeding her oldest. 

He was born in 2020 and Ms Stacey found lockdown made breastfeeding much more difficult. 

“If you were out and about and needing to feed, you were caught on the hop needing to feed, there was nowhere to feed,” she said. 

“So, I fed on steps outside buildings, I fed in between cars and footpaths, I fed at bus stops. 

“With my second I could pick and choose; if there were coffee shops open if I was struggling. 

“So, definitely a much easier experience with my second.” 

A mother breastfeeding an infant baby. Picture by Alamy.com

Ms Stacey hopes that Dublin’s new designation as a Breastfeeding Friendly City will “normalise breastfeeding a lot more” for women who feel nervous about feeding their child in public. 

“The more people see it, the more it’s just an everyday thing,” she said. 

“[That] gives women confidence that they’re doing the right thing for their baby and that people aren’t put off by seeing it.” 

According to the HSE, breast milk helps protect a baby from numerous infections and breastfed children have a reduced risk of developing food allergies and becoming obese when they are older.

Main image: A young mother breastfeeding at a café. Picture by: CBW / Alamy