MONMOUTHSHIRE County Council is proud to be supporting World Breastfeeding Week this August with a new Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme.

World Breastfeeding Week runs from August 1 to 7 and is an annual global campaign celebrated in more than 120 countries.

The campaign aims to raise awareness about the importance of breastfeeding for the health and well-being of babies and their mothers.

At Monmouthshire Flying Start, in partnership with Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, they are proud to be rolling out a new Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme as part of their Gwent-wide Breastfeeding Strategy and they would like the community's support.

The scheme is simple, quick and impactful. All it takes is a short 10-minute presentation on UK breastfeeding laws, followed by registering your venue. Once you’re signed up, a member of their Flying Start team will visit to deliver their official Breastfeeding Welcome sticker.

After three months, they will pop back for a friendly follow-up to see how your team would support a breastfeeding mother in your space.

MCC are already seeing a great uptake, Monmouthshire Hubs and County Hall in Usk are on board, and Monmouthshire’s leisure centres and tourist venues are joining in too.

Now, they are encouraging public venues to get involved and help make breastfeeding in public feel normal, supported and welcomed.

Monmouthshire County Council Leader, Mary Ann Brocklesby, said: “Monmouthshire County Council aim to promote, protect and support parents’ right to breastfeed in public, and to increase the acceptability of breastfeeding as a normal activity.”

“I breastfed in public and at work, my daughter throve. I want the same for every parent.”

“Research has shown that acceptance and support are important for encouraging women to continue to breastfeed beyond the early days.”

“It is our aim that Monmouthshire becomes a welcoming place for mothers to breastfeed.”

Contact [email protected] for more information on how to register.