Our aim is to make North Lanarkshire a place where breastfeeding is the norm. We want to build a supportive community and environment to encourage more women to feel comfortable breastfeeding for as long as they want.

We recognise the short and long-term health benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and baby and support breastfeeding as the optimal infant feeding choice for all parents.

We are working towards becoming the first breastfeeding-friendly council in Scotland and we are delivering an action plan to drive a shift in culture change.

From taking the breastfeeding message into schools and designing new community buildings to include breastfeeding facilities; to encouraging more businesses to display the Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland accreditation sticker and supporting new mums who wish to continue to breastfeed on their return to work from maternity leave.

We’re committed to improving breastfeeding rates. Everyone has a role to play to support breastfeeding in their community. Whether you’re a business, community group, facility or individual.

There’s lots of advice available to help support your breastfeeding journey. NHS Lanarkshire’s infant feeding page provides a range of information and you’ll find details of weekly breastfeeding groups where new parents can get together, share experiences and speak to health experts.

Each Community Board area in North Lanarkshire has a breastfeeding champion in place to support our commitment to improving breastfeeding rates:

• Wishaw & Shotts Board area: Jen Dawson
• Motherwell Board area: Michelle Malarkey
• Bellshill Board area: Carolanne Waddell
• Coatbridge Board area: Denise Mendell
• Airdrie Board area: Charlie McLaughlan/Geraldine Stevenson
• Cumbernauld Board area: Raymond McCabe
• Kilsyth Board area: Carolyn Hamilton
• Northern Corridor Board area: Carolyn Hamilton

By working with our partners and our local communities, we aim to make North Lanarkshire a supportive and welcoming place where new mums breastfeeding feel comfortable and where people across the area can look forward to a healthy future.