03/08/2017

Call For More Support For Breastfeeding

The Labour Party have marked World Breastfeeding Week 2017 with a brand new initiative in support of mothers and newborns.

Senator Kevin Humphreys launched a new Labour Party policy paper entitled 'Supporting Mothers And Babies: A New Approach To Breastfeeding'. Produced in collaboration with Labour Party members and with input from a broad range of stakeholder groups, the paper is a response to difficulties heard from breastfeeding mothers about lack of support.

According to Humphreys, the paper has fourteen key recommendations, including ensuring that Irish maternity hospitals are up to international standards, enough qualified IBC Lactation Consultations, the recommendation for a human donor milk bank in Ireland and appropriate areas for mothers in the workplace.

Labour's Loraine Mulligan said: "It is significant that the Labour Party is putting forward a plan to increase breastfeeding in Ireland. Unless the issue is put on the political agenda and raised in public discourse existing obstacles will remain. It will take a political impetus to ensure the necessary measures and resources are put in place."

She added: "Labour is taking an important step to raise awareness and debate. Women should be able to make an empowered choice about whether or not to breastfeed - the decision should not be determined by a lack of supports."

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