As of this week, Adur & Worthing Councils' buildings are proudly displaying bright pink stickers announcing “You are welcome to breastfeed here” in all their main Council buildings. The stickers have been supplied by the Sussex Community NHS Trust.
Both Councils are committed to welcoming Mums who want to to breastfeed in all of their seven main buildings; Worthing Town Hall, Portland House, Worthing Museum and Art Gallery, Connaught Theatre, Pavilion Theatre, Assembly Hall and The Shoreham Centre (as of October 2015) and if Mothers require a quieter space, they may ask at Reception.
Adur Executive Member for Health & Wellbeing Cllr David Simmons adds:
“The many benefits of breastfeeding for both new Mothers and their babies are very well documented (see below) and we want to make sure that they feel welcomed to do so, in all of our buildings. Recent research carried out by Brunel University estimated that if the percentage of women who breastfed for at least four months increased from 7% to 45%, the NHS could save £11 million a year in treating common childhood diseases and a startling £21 million related to breast cancer alone over the course of a first-time mothers' lifetime. These figures really bring home not just massive savings for the NHS but the very real preventative benefits breastfeeding provides.”
Councillor Edward Crouch, who lead the campaign, said:
“I am so proud that Worthing BC has committed to actively welcoming breastfeeding mothers to our venues. It is one thing to know you are allowed to do something, but surely it's 100 times better to feel welcome. Breastfeeding is one of the most natural things in the world, and given the extensive health benefits, this small change in policy will have a real, lasting and positive effect on the health and wellbeing of Worthing mothers and babies alike.”
Some 'Breast is best' facts and figures
- Breast milk boosts a baby's immune system helping to fight viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections, including: respiratory tract infection, ear infections, bacterial meningitis, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, infant diarrhoea and common colds and flu
- Breastfeeding can actually reduce baby's risk of disease later in life, including: Type I and II diabetes, Hodgkin's disease, Leukaemia, Obesity, High blood pressure, High cholesterol levels, Crohn's disease, Ulcerative colitis, Asthma and Eczema
- Breastfeeding reduces the Mother's risk of ovarian and breast cancer, heart disease, and osteoporosis. The longer she breastfeeds, the higher the benefit - in fact breastfeeding a baby girl actually reduces her lifetime risk of breast cancer by 25%
- Breastfeeding is free, as opposed to an average weekly spend of £20.00 for formula and sterilising equipment
- Breastfeeding aids post-pregnancy weight loss. It takes 1000 calories a day on average to produce breast milk
- Human milk contains substances that promote sleep and calmness in babies
- Breastfed infants are at lower risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
- Breastfeeding Mums sleep on average 45 minutes more a night, compared to those who formula feed
Further information and support can be found on the: