BREASTFEEDING in public may be met with some controversy but NHS Swindon is urging women to embrace the idea in a bid to increase social acceptance.

The organisation is promoting the health benefits of breastfeeding to mark National Breastfeeding Awareness Week which runs until Sunday.

To encourage breastfeeding and offer support, Breastmates breastfeeding group is an informal drop in, jointly run by mothers, breastfeeding counsellors, midwives and health visitors.

Pregnant women and women with babies are invited to the groups to learn more about breastfeeding and receive help and tips.

Helen Smith, Breastfeeding Lead at NHS Swindon, said, “Breastfeeding has many benefits. It helps mother and baby to bond from the physical and emotional closeness it provides. Breast milk helps protect babies from infections, is easier to digest than formula milk and provides longer-term health benefits. It is also free and readily available whenever the baby is hungry.”

As well as lowering the risk of breast and ovarian cancer, breastfeeding naturally uses up about 500 extra calories a day so mums who breastfeed often find it easier to lose their pregnancy weight and it saves money as formula feeding can cost as much as £45 a month.

Babies who are not breastfed have an increased chance of diarrhoea and vomiting, chest infections and ear infections. Babies who have not been breastfed are also more likely to become obese, which increases the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.

“Women should feel comfortable breastfeeding their babies in public, so it is important to increase social acceptance of it,” said Ms Smith. “If women receive support, they are more likely to breastfeed for longer, increasing the health benefits to themselves and their babies.”

“Breastmates is a great place for new mothers and pregnant women to meet. For some women, breastfeeding comes naturally but for others it doesn’t – Breastmates aims to support all of these women.”

For more information on Breastmates including meeting times, visit www.breastfeedingcommunity.co.uk. For help with breastfeeding, call the national helpline on 0300 100 0212 or visit www.nationalbreastfeedinghelpline.org.uk