Highland police lead way on breastfeeding campaign
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Police stations across the Highlands are showing their support for breastfeeding.
They are displaying the national breastfeeding friendly sticker – the first stations in Scotland to do it.
The Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland scheme, launched earlier this year by the Scottish Government, is a way for premises to show their support for breastfeeding and for breastfeeding mothers to know that they are welcome to feed there and will be supported.
Karen Mackay, infant feeding advisor for NHS Highland, explained that many businesses and organisations across Highland had already pledged to support breastfeeding by displaying the NHS Highland sticker and she is delighted that the Highland Division of Police Scotland have pledged their support to the new national scheme.
She said: “By displaying the sticker, breastfeeding women who may require to be on the premises with their child now know that they have a warm, friendly and peaceful environment where they can feed their child.
“Breastfeeding offers protection against numerous childhood illnesses including chest, stomach and ear infections, and diabetes and childhood obesity.
"There are also benefits for mums who breastfeed, including lowering their risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer and hip fractures in later life.
“We want to change attitudes to breastfeeding to make it the norm and the breastfeeding friendly scheme will certainly help with that.”
Chief Inspector Jamie Wilson said: “Police Scotland, Highland and Islands Division is delighted to support the Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland scheme.
"Breastfeeding women should feel comfortable and welcome to feed their child no matter where they are and we hope that by supporting this scheme we will encourage others to follow suit and champion this initiative”
Dr Elizabeth Smith, breastfeeding advocacy lead for Scotland, said: “We want to build a society where breastfeeding mothers can feel confident to breastfeed when they are out and about.
“The Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act, 2005 makes it an offence to prevent or stop a woman from feeding her child in any place in which the public has access and in which the child under two years is entitled to be.
"For children over two years, the Equality Act 2010 makes it illegal for anyone to ask a breastfeeding woman to leave a public place such as a cafe, shop or public transport.
“Premises who have joined the Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland scheme are making it clear to breastfeeding families, and the general public, that they are showing their support for breastfeeding in a very visible way.
"Together we can build a Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland.”
The breastfeeding friendly sticker is available by email at: high-uhb.breastfeedingfriendlyhighland@nhs.net.
