Murrayfield summit aims to improve breastfeeding rates
Experts will come together in Edinburgh today to explore ways to encourage and support more mothers to breastfeed for longer. Off to a Good Start, a new guide for breastfeeding mothers, will also be launched at the event.
The first Scottish Breastfeeding Summit, organised by the Scottish Government, takes place at Murrayfield and will be attended by key players from across the health service, local authorities and the third sector.
Delegates will look at what can be done to improve breastfeeding rates, which have improved over the last decade, but still remain relatively static.
A new guide for breastfeeding mothers, Off To A Good Start, will be launched at the event. The booklet has been produced by NHS Health Scotland after listening to feedback from pregnant women, new mothers and their families. It will be provided free to all health boards and given out to all pregnant women in Scotland.
Scotland is the only country in the UK to have legislation in place that prevents discrimination against women who breastfeed in public.
Maureen Watt, Minister for Public Health, said: “This summit is a chance to share what is working well and come up with some fresh ideas to help increase breastfeeding rates. This is one of the best things any mother can do to give their child a healthy start in life, so it’s absolutely vital that women have all the help and support they need.
“Research shows that women who understand the health benefits for their child are more likely to take it up, so getting that information to them is important. But this is also about identifying barriers that exist, and finding ways around them.”
