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There have been renewed calls this week for women to breastfeed their babies, while the public has been urged to resist "looks and stares" when they see women breastfeeding in public.
An article in today's Irish Independent by TD Mary Mitchell O'Connor calls for the normalisation of the practice. O'Connor writes "a focused response to help increase initial initiation rates is needed as well as a progammatic approach to helping promote, support and encourage mothers who start the process to keep it up for as long as possible". She argues more education and public information initiatives are needed to assist in this process, while more 'lactation experts' are required in hospitals to help guide and assist new mothers.
O'Connor's suggestions come alongside a call from the National Women's Council for businesses, shops, restaurants, offices and other public spaces to display 'breastfeeding welcome here' signs. This would be similar to an existing practice common in the Netherlands. The goal would be to not only encourage mothers to breastfeed rather than bottle-feed in public, but also to assist in public acceptance of the same. "Looks and stares" from others is often cited as a key reason why public breastfeeding is uncommon in Ireland compared to many other European countries, and possibly even a significant factor in the comparatively low overall breastfeeding rates here.
There are many benefits to breastfeeding, for both mother and child. For the child, it can assist with everything from building immunities to decreasing the risk of obesity. For mothers, it also has health benefits, as well as assisting in the bonding process with the child and playing a role in postpartum weight loss. It can also have significant financial benefits, as bottled milk can be an expensive proposition for many families.
Do you agree with the proposal for 'breastfeeding welcome here' signs? Do you feel there is a stigma against public breastfeeding, or do you believe it should be kept private? Vote in our poll and leave your comments below.
