North Lanarkshire council is celebrating becoming the first local authority in Scotland to be recognised for boosting breastfeeding.

The local authority previously had one of the lowest rates due to “significant health and inequality challenges”.

Now the council has achieved a gold status in the first-ever Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland Local Authority Award, recognising its commitment to supporting breastfeeding in the workplace and wider community.

The number of breastfed babies living in the most deprived areas has risen by more than 20% since 2016, according to Public Health Scotland.

The Glasgow Times spoke to mums from North Lanarkshire who said “you can’t ignore the money saving benefits especially during the cost-of-living crisis”.

Meanwhile rates, across the entire region, recorded a 10% increase over the last eight years with babies being breastfed by their 6-8 week review.

Glasgow Times: North Lanarkshire Council achieves gold status and is the first in Scotland North Lanarkshire Council achieves gold status and is the first in Scotland (Image: Newsquest)

 

It comes after a range of measures were introduced including improving employer support and making public venues safe spaces to breastfeed.

The council also established nine community breastfeeding champions of mixed gender, who work with health colleagues in communities to promote and support breastfeeding.

Foster carers also completed NHS training on responsive feeding, financial support and social work staff trained on infant nutrition and benefits of breastfeeding.

Depute Leader of the Council, Councillor Louise Roarty said, “We had one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in North Lanarkshire, driven by significant health and inequality challenges. 

“Yet one of the biggest levellers of inequity that we naturally have is breastfeeding, and the council is committed to cultivating a more welcoming environment to encourage more mums to breastfeed.

“We have worked hard to implement a range of measures across services to support breastfeeding, make the workplace environment more conducive to breastfeeding and expressing milk and to developing a culture where breastfeeding really is the norm. 

“Latest figures show that the number of babies breastfed at six to eight weeks in North Lanarkshire has risen to 30.4% compared to 20.9% eight years ago. 

“These latest figures are a fitting achievement as we receive the gold accreditation for the actions the council has taken with partners to improve those rates.

“Supporting families to have improved outcomes starts from birth and the benefits from breastfeeding can have a significant impact on longer-term health and wellbeing and wider opportunities.”


Professor Jann Gardner, chief executive, NHS Lanarkshire, said: “This accreditation for North Lanarkshire Council is well deserved and clearly demonstrates the positive impact of giving our children the best possible start in life.”