Over 1,200 new mothers have benefited from support from Glasgow Baby Cafės in the last five years, according to new figures from the National Childbirth Trust (NCT).

The three cafes, based in Govanhill, Kirkintilloch and Barrhead, offer free support to local mothers who want to breastfeed.

To mark the cafės’ fifth birthdays, and to celebrate helping so many local mums, all three cafės hosted parties. The Govanhill Baby Café, based at the Daisy Street Centre in Govanhill and supported by Glasgow City HSCP’s South Locality Health Improvement Team, held its party on 2 December 2019.

Lesleyann Currie, Infant Feeding Advisor, South Locality said: “I am delighted that in the five years Govanhill Baby Café has been opened we have had 2,000 visits, and have helped 606 mothers with breastfeeding. Baby Cafés are a free service that provide a welcoming atmosphere for pregnant women and new mums. While attending, they can access the social support of others in the same situation and receive information about breastfeeding from NCT peer supporters and Glasgow City HSCP Health Visiting staff.

“While breastfeeding rates within NHSGGC are improving, we are aware that there are still women within our communities who start breastfeeding but stop earlier than they would have liked to. Research shows that 80% of women who stop breastfeeding in the first few weeks would have liked to continue for longer. The Baby Café is one of the ways we are able to provide women with the support and information they need to enable them to continue to breastfeed as long as they would wish.”

Donna McSwiggan, Scottish Breastfeeding Programme Manager, NCT said: “We’re delighted to have helped so many new mums in Glasgow to breastfeed. We set up Baby Cafés in areas where breastfeeding rates were low and these results have shown our peer supporters have had a significant impact.

“For those who can’t attend our Baby Cafés, there’s lots of information on the NCT website about breastfeeding and formula feeding, and a support line to help new parents with feeding.”

Glasgow Baby Cafés are a partnership with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and are commissioned by the Scottish Government.

Your Health Visitor can signpost to local breastfeeding support in your area. Baby Café details can be found online via NCT’s website and on the NCT Glasgow Facebook. The Scottish Government’s Parent Club website https://www.parentclub.scot/ also lists breastfeeding support groups.

Details of other support for Breastfeeding can be found on the South Glasgow Health Improvement Facebook page.