NHS Lanarkshire

Lanarkshire Breastfeeding Initiative

The Lanarkshire Breastfeeding Initiative (LBI) is a partnership between NHS Lanarkshire and women in the community which aims to promote the benefits of breastfeeding and provide support. Members include local mums, midwives, public health nurses and other health professionals.

Fewer mums in Lanarkshire choose to breastfeed compared to other areas in Scotland which means many women have never seen a baby breastfeed.

It is important for new mums to get support to help them get breastfeeding off to a good start. Because grannies, aunts and friends have not breastfed their own babies this support is often missing.

The Lanarkshire Breastfeeding Initiative has worked together with NHS Lanarkshire to fill this gap.

Quarterly meetings are held in the Parenthood Department at Wishaw General Hospital. These are informal gatherings and provide a good opportunity for mums, babies, toddlers and health professionals to meet and chat.

For more information visit the Lanarkshire Breastfeeding Initiative's website.

Breastfeeding-friendly premises

The Breastfeeding Friendly Campaign was set up in 2003 by the Lanarkshire Breastfeeding Initiative in partnership with NHS Lanarkshire, in response to a request from mothers in the Bellshill Breastfeeding Support Group.

The women asked the Lanarkshire Breastfeeding Initiative to find them places to feed when they were out and about with their babies - they wanted to be confident they would not be asked to stop feeding or "to do it elsewhere" e.g. a toilet or a nearby cupboard.

Lanarkshire Breastfeeding Initiative is pleased to announce many local companies and premises are already recognised as Breastfeeding-Friendly and hopefully many more will come on board. Look out for the Award sticker on windows and doors of premises!

To find your nearest Breastfeeding-friendly premises in your town visit the Lanarkshire Breastfeeding Initiative website.