Breastfeeding mothers welcome at Llandrindod Town Council's offices after members joined a scheme

Breastfeeding mothers will be welcome at Llandrindod Wells Town Council's headquarters after they signed up to a scheme.

The council has recently registered as a Powys Breastfeeding Welcome venue and will be displaying a sticker in the window of Temple Chambers on South Crescent, Llandrindod Wells to show it.

Town clerk Jane Johnson asked members if they would be willing to join the scheme at the October meeting after meeting a representative at a local networking meeting.

Jane said the woman was championing the scheme and told her that they only get a £200 grant to run the scheme. She said registering would be good for the council as it has space and comfortable chairs and it would not cost or impact on council work.

The scheme aims to support and empower mothers and families to feel confident breastfeeding out and about in the community.

The scheme offers an easy way that communities and businesses can show they welcome and support breastfeeding, it raises awareness about the benefits and barriers to breastfeeding and it supports businesses and organisations to be more breastfeeding friendly.

The scheme is open to any business, venue or organisation that has public premises and who wishes to show that they welcome breastfeeding mothers and families.

The Scheme does not cost anything to join, but venues must sign up to the breastfeeding welcome policy, display the scheme sticker in the window and be included in the Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme section on the Dewis Cymru website.

A spokesperson said: “Breastfeeding is good for mothers, babies and the environment. The law (Equality Act 2010) protects a woman's right to breastfeed her baby in public places, but many new mothers feel nervous about breastfeeding whilst out and about. This can mean that women end up staying at home when their baby is born, which can make them feel lonely and isolated, or they choose not to breastfeed or stop breastfeeding before they wanted to.

“In Powys, although over 80% of all new mothers start breastfeeding when their baby is born, by the time their baby is six weeks, this has fallen to below 60%.

“The Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme is a way that businesses and organisations can show to breastfeeding mothers and families and the wider community that they welcome breastfeeding mothers and will help them feel more comfortable whilst feeding out and about.

“Breastmilk is the best nutrition for babies. The recommendation from the NHS is that babies should receive nothing but breastmilk until they are six months old and then that breastfeeding should continue, alongside other foods, up to two years of age and beyond if the mother wishes. “Breastfeeding is recognised as being one of the most important interventions in improving children’s health and is considered key to reducing inequalities in health.

“Breastfeeding offers protection against lots of childhood illnesses including chest, stomach and ear infections, diabetes and childhood obesity. Mothers who breastfeed can also gain health benefits, as they lower their risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer and hip fractures in later life. The longer a mother breastfeeds, the more health benefits both she and her baby will receive.”

Councillor Sian Meredudd said: “I think it would be a good thing, having had six little ones and not being able to breastfeed openly at that time.”

Llandrindod Wells Mayor Councillor Steve Deeks-D'Silva added: “Babies are hungry when they are hungry not when the mothers are at home in private. I can't really understand why people get upset about the most natural thing in the world – feeding a baby.”

Members agreed to join the Powys Breastfeeding Welcome scheme.