Increasing the number of mums who breastfeed their babies is a Scottish Government priority
to improve child health and reduce inequalities.

In Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership’s North East Locality, the Health
Improvement Team has adopted a range of different approaches to help our local mums to
initiate and sustain breastfeeding. As well as maintaining our UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative
accreditation, we have established three breastfeeding support groups to help mums access
support from staff and other mums.

Christine Walker, Health Improvement Senior said: “Feedback from mums consistently
indicates that peer support plays a key role in encouraging them to continue breastfeeding.
To this end, we have worked in partnership with The Breastfeeding Network (BfN) to deliver
a peer support training course to 11 mums, through which they will achieve a nationally
recognised qualification from the Open College Network. These 11 mums are now looking
forward to supporting other mums in a variety of ways. For example, by volunteering at
breastfeeding support groups, being a good listener at the end of the phone and helping mums
who have recently given birth in the Princess Royal Maternity hospital.”

On 1 December, staff celebrated the completion of the first part of the training with staff and
mums and babies. Alison Thewliss, MP for Glasgow Central, came along in support, sharing
her own experience of breastfeeding her children and spending time chatting to mums about
their training. She also spoke about the All Party Parliamentary Group for Infant Feeding and
Inequalities event which took place in Parliament on Tuesday 5 December. This was in support
of UNICEF’s call to action advocating that the UK and devolved governments promote, protect
and support breastfeeding in all policy areas where breastfeeding has an impact.
Christine continued: “Our new peer supporters also shared their own experiences of
breastfeeding and what the training has meant to them. They are looking forward to taking
the knowledge and skills they have learned into the community to help support antenatal and
breastfeeding mums here in the North East. It was a lovely morning enjoyed by all, including
the babies of course who, as always, were still the centre of attention.”
The link below has a news report on the day with short videos sharing two mums’ thoughts on
breastfeeding and peer support:
www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/health/east-end-mums-band-together-13993755