13 June 2022

This week is Scottish Breastfeeding week (13 to 19 June), and we are backing the national “Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland” scheme, which supports women to breastfeed when out and about in public spaces.

We recognise that breastfeeding when out and about can be intimidating for some mothers. In the Borders there are many places that mums might visit in the community such as libraries, restaurants and cafes which have signed up to the Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland award. These breastfeeding friendly venues are welcoming to all mums who breastfeed their babies by providing a comfortable and relaxing space to do so.

In 2020/21 72.2% of Borders babies were breastfed for at least some time after their birth, which is higher than the national average of 66%.

Juliet Fraser, Health Improvement Specialist for Maternal and Infant Nutrition/Children and Young People, at NHS Borders said: “We know that breast milk has a wide range of benefits for both baby and mother’s health, protecting children from a vast range of illnesses and protecting mothers from breast and ovarian cancers and heart disease.

“We aim to provide a service that is supportive and nurturing while also informing families about all aspects of infant feeding and close and loving relationships. This enables families to recognise the incredible value of breastfeeding, not only for themselves, but also for the environment and society.

“The ongoing work we are doing to maintain and develop our UNICEF Baby Friendly Accreditations continues to evolve our service in a positive way. Our breastfeeding rates are very high so we are now focusing on supporting long term continued breastfeeding. This involves providing additional services on the ward and in the community, such as Breastfeeding in the Borders (BiBS). We continue to work in collaboration with Early Learning Centres and encourage more businesses in the Borders to sign up to the Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland Scheme to help promote the importance of breastfeeding in our communities.”

Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland (BFS) is a national scheme you can sign up to for free. It's endorsed by the Scottish Government and run by local health boards.

It aims to help businesses and people who breastfeed know their rights and responsibilities.

The award lets people know the business:

  • is part of the scheme
  • understands the law
  • supports breastfeeding on their premises

For more information on the Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland scheme visit: https://www.parentclub.scot/articles/getting-out-and-about-while-breastfeeding

For more information on the benefits of breastfeeding and to find out about the local support that’s available please visit the Breastfeeding in the Borders’ Service (BiBS) website via: www.nhsborders.scot.nhs.uk/BiBS