Devlin Welcomes Breastfeeding Welcome Here Scheme
Mournes’ Councillor Laura Devlin has given a thumbs up to public support from the Ulster GAA for the Public Health Agency’s (PHA) Breastfeeding Welcome Here scheme
SDLP Councillor Laura Devlin, has welcomed the announcement by Ulster GAA which will without doubt be a further stride towards normalising breastfeeding.
Cllr Devlin said: “I was delighted to see the announcement this week from Ulster GAA which featured members of Kilcoo GAC.
“We know that the breastfeeding rates in NI are the lowest in the UK and the UK is lower than Europe. The benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and baby are well documented.
“My eldest child is 6. I recall the first time I fed him on my own in public. I drove to a different town so that no one would know me while I built up my confidence.
“For any new mum it can often be really tough so when you combine that with little sleep, taking that first step in particular takes courage.”
Cllr Devlin added: “I can see really positive steps over the past 6 years to normalise breast feeding and this is, in part, due to schemes such as this one from the PHA.
“The Ulster GAA have over 300 clubs so for this message to be coming out loud and strong is fantastic.
“Some mothers are unable to breastfeed, and others opt not to.
“But for those mums who wish to go down this route, I am so keen that they get as much support as physically possible. So well done to Ulster GAA. “