Events week aims to show breast is best

Published on Friday 8 May 2009 10:09

A SERIES of events across the Lothians are due to take place to mark Breast Feeding Awareness Week.

Coffee mornings, advice workshops and mass meet-and-greet sessions are planned next week.

NHS Lothian wants to appeal not just to new mothers but raise awareness across the board about the benefits of breast feeding.

A health promotion stall will be based at the Gyle Centre on 16 May, while a coffee morning is planned for 14 May at 11.30am at the Goodtrees Community Centre in Moredun.

Every day at noon next week, mothers will be invited to gather in the main mall at the ERI to ask any questions about breastfeeding.

NHS Lothian's chief midwife Maria Wilson said: "Breastfeeding offers the best possible start to newborn babies and helps protect them against a wide range of serious illnesses including gastroenteritis and respiratory infections in infancy as well as allergies and diabetes in childhood.

"We also know that there is often a lot of pressure on new mums to breastfeed, and the first few months can be a difficult time.

"It's really important that women are not afraid to ask for support."