The Boulevard Outlet joins ‘Breastfeeding Welcome Here’ just in time for Christmas

Andrew Hamilton, Operations Manager at The Boulevard with Kayleigh Harvey and her baby Sonny, Alicia Lappin and her baby Conor Óg and Dr Hannah McCourt, Senior Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement Officer at the Public Health Agency.

The Boulevard Outlet in Banbridge has become the latest organisation to join the Public Health Agency’s (PHA) Breastfeeding Welcome Here scheme – a programme that aims to increase the number of premises which actively show support to breastfeeding mums.

This new membership represents a huge support network to breastfeeding mums visiting the centre and becomes part of over 800 businesses, local government facilities and community organisations who have joined Breastfeeding Welcome Here.  

In joining this scheme, The Boulevard has pledged that:

  • breastfeeding is welcome across all areas of its premises open to the general public;
  • a mum who is breastfeeding will not be asked to move or stop breastfeeding;
  • all staff and stores within the centre will be made aware of the scheme and that The Boulevard is supportive of the needs of any breastfeeding mums;
  • they will display the Breastfeeding Welcome Here window stickers and certificates throughout public areas of the centre.

 

Dr Hannah McCourt, Senior Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement Officer with PHA, said: “The PHA is delighted to welcome The Boulevard to the Breastfeeding Welcome Here scheme.

“The Breastfeeding Welcome Here scheme is an initiative that aims to provide supportive environments for mothers to breastfeed when they’re out and about in public places, particularly those who maybe feel apprehensive.

“The scheme, which started in 2005, is there to reassure women who want to breastfeed that there are businesses and organisations out there who have taken proactive steps to welcome breastfeeding mothers and show solidarity with them. This can often relieve pressure for a mum by showing there is a friendly environment where breastfeeding is normal and the needs of a breastfeeding mum will be met.

“Breastfeeding offers babies the best start in life and can be a very rewarding experience. As well as having all the nutrients a baby needs to grow and develop, human milk has very special ingredients such as antibodies, hormones and stem cells to help protect them now and in the future. Initiatives like Breastfeeding Welcome Here help to normalise breastfeeding and create the right conditions for mothers to breastfeed in comfort, wherever they are.”

Between 2010-2020 the initial rates of breastfeeding in Northern Ireland rose from 45% to 50%, however there is then a big drop off, with only 21% of babies receiving breastmilk at six months old. Feedback indicates that this is often because there is lack of support, particularly when feeding outside of the home, with nine-out-of-ten mothers stopping before they intended.

Andrew Hamilton, Operations Manager at The Boulevard said:

“We’re delighted to be joining the Breastfeeding Welcome Here scheme. Here at The Boulevard we are all about supporting our customers and making everyone feel welcome when they come here. We want to encourage breastfeeding mums to come along to The Boulevard and know that breastfeeding is completely normal as it should be. We hope that by joining the scheme it creates more awareness for breastfeeding mums and helps us create a supportive environment.”

Local mother, Alicia Lappin and baby Conor Óg regularly shop at The Boulevard and are delighted to see the scheme being rolled out.

Alicia said:

“It’s great to hear The Boulevard have joined the Breastfeeding Welcome Here scheme. I know I can feed anywhere but it’s so good to know when a business has gone the extra mile to support breastfeeding mums. Seeing the stickers when out and about helps me feel confident to breastfeed in public and provides some extra reassurance.”

Dr McCourt concluded: “Thankfully it’s rare for a mum to experience any open confrontation or critical comment or behaviour about them breastfeeding in public that causes them to feel uneasy. Breastfeeding Welcome Here venues have shown a commitment to provide that extra bit of support and make it clear to everyone that they actively welcome breastfeeding. Making it easier for mums to choose breastfeeding will help improve breastfeeding rates in Northern Ireland.”

For more information visit www.breastfedbabies.org which provides a list of local businesses across Northern Ireland participating in the scheme.