Saturday, May 17, 2008
Skip Navigation LinksHome

ISLAND WISHES MUMS ALL THE BREAST

By Lori Little - Friday, May 9, 2008
ISLAND WISHES MUMS ALL THE BREAST
The Island is more breast-feeding friendly than ever before and a new campaign is highlighting the fact. Pictured are, from left, Jane Barrett-Bellingham of the National Childbirth Trust, head of midwifery at St Mary’s, Annie Hunter, and Carla Bradshaw, of the NCT.Picture by JENNIFER BURTON.
AROUND 60 businesses and organisations are leading the way as the Island’s breastfeeding-friendly venues.
The IW National Childbirth Trust (NCT) recently launched a campaign to promote wider acceptance of breastfeeding in public and has published an initial list of places where mothers can breast feed.
Two weeks ago, businesses were asked through the County Press to contact the NCT to add themselves to the list and NCT members have approached others to support the campaign.
The list is being published to coincide with National Breastfeeding Week, which starts on Sunday.
Carla Bradshaw, of the IW NCT, said: “We are very excited so many businesses have signed up on our first request.
“We hope this list will reassure women if they make the choice to breastfeed, they can go out and about with their baby.
“They are welcome to feed their babies in these places, should the need arise and will be treated with respect.”
Businesses will be given a sticker to display for mothers to recognise the venues.
The stickers were launched on Tuesday, when Carla and the IW NCT’s co-chairman Jane Barrett-Bellingham met Annie Hunter, head of midwifery at St Mary’s Hospital.
The list of friendly venues will be made available to all families via the maternity department at St Mary’s Hospital, community midwives, health visitors and children’s centres, and will be posted on the FIZ website.
IW BREASTFEEDING-FRIENDLY VENUES
All Island libraries (Brighstone, Bembridge, Cowes, East Cowes, Freshwater, Lord Louis Newport, Niton, Ryde, Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor), Amazon World, Appuldurcombe House, Arreton Barns and Dairyman’s Daughter pub, Bargeman’s Rest, Newport; Blackgang Chine, Brading Roman Villa, Brickfields Horsecountry, Calbourne Water Mill, Chessell Pottery, Coleman’s Farm (cafe and picnic area), Costa, at Tesco Extra, Ryde; Cowes Children’s Centre, Dimbola Lodge Museum, Freshwater Bay; FIZ (Family Information Zone), Newport; Godshill Organics, Honnor and Jeffrey Garden Centres, Horse and Groom pub, Ningwood; Images Cafe, Newport; Jolly Roger’s Plaice, Newport; Marks & Spencer, Medina Leisure Centre, MetBar (daytime only), Ventnor; Morrison’s, stores, Mothercare, National Trust sites, Owl and Falconry Centre, Wroxall; Quay Arts, Newport; Red Funnel, Cowes; Robin Hill Country Park, Newport; Sainsbury’s, Newport; Seabreeze Cafe, East Cowes;, Shoreside Cafe, East Cowes; Smugglers’ Haven Tea Gardens, Bonchurch; Spyglass Inn, Ventnor; St Mary’s Hospital, Steamer Inn, Shanklin; Sure Start, Ryde; The Bay’s Children’s centres (Shanklin and Sandown), The Heights Leisure centre, The Kingston Arms, Cowes; The Lilliput Antique Doll and Toy Museum, Brading; The Needles Park, Alum Bay; Ventnor Botanic Garden and cafe, Ventnor Children’s Centre, Waterside Pool, Ryde; West Newport Children’s Centre, West Wight Sports Centre, Freshwater.