Campaigning mums stage mass breastfeed

Friday 21 September 2018

Dozens of mums are staging a ‘big latch’ in the park this morning to show that breastfeeding in public places should be seen as a normal, day-to-day practice.

Organised by Jersey’s Breastfeeding Working Group, the mass show of solidarity for the natural baby feeding ritual will take place today between 10:00 and 12:00 at the Elephant Park in St. Brelade.

The aim of the event is to promote stigma-free breastfeeding in public places and for legislation and policy to protect breastfeeding.

Speaking to Express last month, several mums spoke of still feeling self-conscious when breastfeeding in public places. Some called for a breastfeeding room near the bus station. One mum explained: “I recently had an ‘incident’ where I was waiting for the bus and my baby wanted to be fed. There were lots of people around and I didn’t want to breastfeed in the middle of the street. If there was a room nearby I wouldn’t have to go in the toilets.”

Deputy Louise Doublet, who has championed breast-feeding rights and introduced an amendment to the anti-discrimination legislation in 2015 to give protection to mothers breast-feeding their babies in public, commented at the time: “I think the idea is that people are really negative about breastfeeding but that’s not the case. People are coming round to the fact that it should be supported and that women don’t have to hide.”

Pictured: Deputy Doublet wants to make sure women in the workplace have more support to continue breastfeeding.

However, there is still more work to be done, with figures showing that only 20% of babies between nine months and a year old are being breastfed. For Deputy Doublet, this might be due to the lack of support in the workplace. 

While some companies have already taken steps to support breastfeeding mums - including the States, which opened a ‘Wellbeing Room’ in Cyril Le Marquand House where working mums can either breastfeed or express milk - Deputy Doublet is working on law changes that would offer more support to women who want to continue breastfeeding.

A new mum said: “When you think about it, it is the same as having a cigarette breaks with the difference that we are feeding a tiny human. It’s good that some companies encourage it. It’s all a compromise, it they want to have you back to work early, they have to provide the support. It’s not a disadvantage for them, quite the opposite.”

Pictured: The Big Latch will take place at the Elephant Park in St. Brelade.

Today's 'Big Latch' event is supported by Family Nursing & Home Care (FNHC), Jersey Child Care Trust, Health and Community Midwives from the States of Jersey and National Childbirth Trust Jersey. Jersey’s Breastfeeding Working Group is taking advantage of the event to celebrate its midwives and health visitors completing training delivered by UNICEF and gaining the certificate of commitment to the introduction of the Baby Friendly Initiative. 

Michelle Cumming, FNHC’s Operational Lead for Child and Family Services and Chair of the Breastfeeding Working Group, said: "Breastfeeding has proven long-term health benefits for babies. It’s important we raise awareness and influence a positive breastfeeding culture in the island so that mothers feel supported when they need to breastfeed in public. The Big Latch is a great event for families to come together and support each other, and also have the opportunity to speak to healthcare professionals about any issues or concerns they might have about breastfeeding."