Breastfeeding Friendly Venues officially recognised in Merthyr Tydfil

We are thrilled to announce that the Integrated Children’s Centre, Gurnos Community Centre, and Treharris Flying Start Buildings have officially been designated as Breastfeeding Friendly Venues!

Breastfeeding offers numerous benefits for mothers, babies, and the environment. While the law ensures that women have the right to breastfeed in any public place, many mothers still feel apprehensive about breastfeeding in public. This often leads to new mothers staying at home, which can result in feelings of loneliness and isolation, or choosing to stop breastfeeding earlier than they would like.

By recognising Breastfeeding Friendly Venues, we are committed to providing comfortable and private spaces for breastfeeding mothers whenever they need them. This initiative not only promotes the health and well-being of mothers and their babies, but also underscores our core values of inclusiveness and community support.

Gail Owens, a dedicated midwife at Flying Start, emphasises the benefits of breastfeeding, stating:

“Breastfeeding is so much more than feeding your baby. It allows time for that special bond between a mother and baby to develop. By making the ICC, Gurnos Community Centre and the Treharris Flying Start Buildings breastfeeding friendly venues, it will enable mothers to feel welcomed in a relaxed and inviting environment to feed their baby. The more venues we have available for breastfeeding within Merthyr will normalise women’s thoughts on breastfeeding and hopefully increase breastfeeding rates, which will in turn give better health outcomes to the next generation.”

To further support breastfeeding mothers, a breastfeeding support group meets every Tuesday at the Integrated Children’s Centre, Pentrebach. This group provides a wonderful opportunity for mothers to share experiences, receive support, and build a community.

We encourage everyone to share the news about our Breastfeeding Friendly Venues and support breastfeeding mothers in our community. We also invite the community to visit these venues and take advantage of the breastfeeding-friendly spaces available.

For more information about our Breastfeeding Friendly Venues, please contact Jenna James at 01685 727374 or Jenna.James@merthyr.gov.uk.