British mothers are demanding that they be allowed to breastfeed babies in public. The National Childbirth Trust has also put its weight behind this proposal saying that 'women should feel confident and comfortable' when feeding their babies.
MP David Kidney's Private Member's Bill has called for a breastfeeding law in England since Scotland already has such a legislation, which was passed in March. In a survey by the NCT, it was found that of 1,394 mothers 85 percent breastfed their babies, but over 50 percent were embarrassed while doing it in public.Mother who breastfed were asked to move from restaurants, cafes, schools and high streets, it has emerged. 'Mothers shouldn't be made to feel that they have to hide away while they are breastfeeding. We believe mothers should have the freedom to feed their babies when they need to be fed. Most breastfeeding is so discreet, no one notices,' said Rosie Dodds, policy research officer at the NCT.
'Breastfeeding makes a difference for both mothers and babies right from the first feed,' she added. 'If women are denied the right to breastfeed when they are out and about or don't feel comfortable enough to feed in public, they are being forced to deprive their baby of the healthiest start in life.'