Issue - meetings

To consider the following Motion submitted by Councillor Carragher:

Breast is Best

“Sefton Council strongly encourages mothers to breastfeed. The Health and Wellbeing Strategy actively promotes breast feeding as the best start in life, and as such it is encouraged by NHS and community breastfeeding support staff. In spite of this, the Council will not discriminate against any woman in her chosen method of infant feeding and will fully support her in the decision she has made.

Breastfeeding is the healthiest way to feed a baby and there are important health benefits for both mother and child. Despite this, Sefton still has one of the lowest rates of breastfeeding in the UK. The most recent statistics for Sefton tell us that 57.7% of new mothers start breastfeeding, but that this rapidly declines to 29.8% after just 6-8 weeks.

The World Health Organisation recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of a baby’s life. Mothers often stop breastfeeding exclusively around 4-6 months of age, perhaps because they have returned to work.  However, returning to work does not mean that women have to stop breastfeeding. Legislation is in place protecting new mothers in the workplace. Employees of the Council who are breastfeeding are covered under these regulations (can add reference).

Sefton Council actively promotes breast feeding to new mothers, and it is acknowledged that the Council should create a breastfeeding friendly working environment. In so doing the Council will act as role model for other employers. Benefits include, reduced levels of sickness amongst mothers and babies, increased staff morale and an extra incentive to offer potential employees.

The Council will ensure that a Sefton Council  workplace breastfeeding policy is implemented that includes ; break allowances so that mothers can express milk; provision of a clean, warm and private room for expressing milk; a fridge to store expressed milk and flexible working hours for breastfeeding mothers.

In addition, the Council will  ensure:

• That breastfeeding is permitted and welcomed in all public areas of the council
• That under no circumstances will a breastfeeding mother be asked to move, cover up or stop feeding her baby
• That objections to breastfeeding in any public place are tactfully but robustly challenged
• The development and implementation of a breastfeeding policy based on the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative Standard, relevant NICE guidance and the Healthy Child Programme. The policy will be a collaboration involving families, health care professionals and the voluntary sector.
• That no Council or partner agency condones the promotion of infant formula through   aggressive marketing techniques, or non-evidence based claims of health benefits.
• However, the Council, whilst actively promoting breast feeding will not discriminate against any woman in her chosen method of infant feeding and will fully support her in the decision that she feels is best suitable for her well being.”

It was moved by Councillor Carragher, seconded by Councillor Moncur and unanimously

RESOLVED:

Breast is Best

Sefton Council strongly encourages mothers to breastfeed. The Health and Wellbeing Strategy actively promotes breast feeding as the best start in life, and as such it is encouraged by NHS and community breastfeeding support staff. In spite of this, the Council will not discriminate against any woman in her chosen method of infant feeding and will fully support her in the decision she has made.

Breastfeeding is the healthiest way to feed a baby and there are important health benefits for both mother and child. Despite this, Sefton still has one of the lowest rates of breastfeeding in the UK. The most recent statistics for Sefton tell us that 57.7% of new mothers start breastfeeding, but that this rapidly declines to 29.8% after just 6-8 weeks.

The World Health Organisation recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of a baby’s life. Mothers often stop breastfeeding exclusively around 4-6 months of age, perhaps because they have returned to work.  However, returning to work does not mean that women have to stop breastfeeding. Legislation is in place protecting new mothers in the workplace. Employees of the Council who are breastfeeding are covered under these regulations.

Sefton Council actively promotes breast feeding to new mothers, and it is acknowledged that the Council should create a breastfeeding friendly working environment. In so doing the Council will act as role model for other employers. Benefits include, reduced levels of sickness amongst mothers and babies, increased staff morale and an extra incentive to offer potential employees.

The Council will ensure that a Sefton Council  workplace breastfeeding policy is implemented that includes ; break allowances so that mothers can express milk; provision of a clean, warm and private room for expressing milk; a fridge to store expressed milk and flexible working hours for breastfeeding mothers.

In addition, the Council will ensure:

• That breastfeeding is permitted and welcomed in all public areas of the Council;

• That under no circumstances will a breastfeeding mother be asked to move, cover up or stop feeding her baby;

• That objections to breastfeeding in any public place are tactfully but robustly challenged;

• The development and implementation of a breastfeeding policy based on the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative Standard, relevant NICE guidance and the Healthy Child Programme. The policy will be a collaboration involving families, health care professionals and the voluntary sector;

• That no Council or partner agency condones the promotion of infant formula through   aggressive marketing techniques, or non-evidence based claims of health benefits; and

• However, the Council, whilst actively promoting breast feeding will not discriminate against any woman in her chosen method of infant feeding and will fully support her in the decision that she feels is best suitable for her well being.