Meeting of the Parliament 23 January 2024
I think that that is a little bit off topic, but we definitely need to work really hard to do that.
Not every mum will succeed at breastfeeding, but there is no need for guilt, because our best will always be good enough. Social acceptance also has a key role to play, and mums need to feel that it is okay to feed their baby wherever and whenever they are hungry. I urge employers to play their part by joining the breastfeeding friendly Scotland scheme. It is quick and easy to become a supportive space for breastfeeding mums.
Breastfeeding groups are vital, too. They provide a safe environment where mums can observe others feed and swap tips on suitable clothes for covering up during feeding. Let us face it: no mum wants their post-pregnancy belly on show. Witnessing the progress of mums who were struggling to feed one week but thriving the next is a big boost to confidence, and sharing challenges honestly with volunteers or other mums can sometimes be easier than doing so with busy health professionals.
Presiding Officer, I could talk about breastfeeding all day. Much of my passion comes from personal experience, but it is also to do with the mountains of irrefutable evidence showing that breastfeeding gives our babies and children the very best start in life. That is certainly worth celebrating and supporting.
I will finish with Keith Hansen’s words in his contribution to The Lancet breastfeeding series, which encapsulate the extensive health, nutritional and emotional benefits that breastfeeding provides to children, mothers and wider society. He said:
“If breastfeeding did not already exist, someone who invented it today would deserve a dual Nobel Prize in medicine and economics.”