I think the problem is that of recent times, as a whole, the marketing of formula milks in their bright shiny tins along with the ‘disgust and outrage’ at the ordacity of a mum who wants to breast-feed (aghast) in a public place (shock horror) have combined to make the whole subject completely taboo.

Add to this a certain number who don’t perhaps have their own mothers influence, and a further number that won’t listen to their doctors and midwives “‘cos day is orfority, man” and you can see where the problem gets worse !!!

I was in a well known pizza restaurant with my family only a couple of weeks ago when the middle-aged oiks on the next table started whining to the staff because a lady out with her partner and two other kids had started to breast feed, in a corner, away from the main view of everyone else – causing no problems

This is a bigger picture than a ‘gimmick’ – the health benefits to both baby and mum are massive – breastfeeding protects against obesity, allergies, asthma and diabetes. Babies who are breast-fed may be less likely to become obese children.

Breast-fed infants also have a lower risk of gastroenteritis and respiratory and ear infections, research shows.

And mum should lose the weight they gained in pregnancy faster and they also lower their risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer, experts say.

So I say well done Shropshire Council …. come on Telford and Wrekin, play the game !!!

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This is an important issue and it is about time that breast feeding was accepted wherever you may be. As stated before the health implications of breast feeding are huge. There are also the cost savings. Breast milk is available free and always at the right temperature.
A woman who feels she cannot breast feed in public will be a prisoner in her own home.
I breast fed wherever I happened to be including at a clients during a meeting which they had asked me to attend during my maternity leave. I was never made to feel uncomfortable by anyone and no one ever complained – however I would have been ready for the arguement if they had.
Money well spent in my eyes.

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Dear Mr Braid.

I am a breastfeeding peer supporter. I was helping to run an event today in aid of National Breastfeeding Awarness week. We are volunteers who feel passionate about helping mothers to breastfeed their infants. We are not paid and do not claim expenses. Unfortunatly todays society has no space for familial help around a new mother. Most of the information out there regarding breastfeeding is very out of date. We need an awarness week like this to show people where we are and what we do should those people need somehelp. Breastfeeding is a normal natural life event, Why should the Drs/Nurses time be taken up with issues that can easily be sorted by people such as ourselves. As others have rightly said formula feeding the nations infants has a massive impact on the health service. Now that is wasteful use of resources.

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Research from the Infant Feeding Survey has shown that most mums start out breastfeeding however, around 90% stop breastfeeding in the first six weeks, and only 25% of mums are still breastfeeding at six months. Therefore a health awareness campaign isn’t gimmicky – it’s just common sense.

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I worked on a SCBU in the 1970s and we worked very hard to try and persuade and support mothers to breast feed. When Thatcher’s Britain came along where ‘time is money’ there was even less acknowledgement for women to have time away from work, in a child’s first year at the very least.

I was fortunate to be able to feed all my three plus have the last one at home but without my own previous experience I think it would have been much harder to have that confidence. It is difficult for women to trust their own bodies with so much pressure and medicalisation of childbirth today.

At this time of the year with hot weather breast feeding is amazing. the milk is richer when it needs to be and more thinner when the baby needs more fluid, so the right consistency, temperature and it’s convenient and hygenic.
30 years ago my friend was made to go into a backroom at the Shropshire Lady tea room (remember that?)we felt like conspirators and around the sametime in Wales my sister was told off by a policeman for feeding her daughter in a park!

Things have moved on a bit but whther you chaps like it or not our page 3s are there for more than just your titilation. ;)

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