Ulster Rugby To Support Breastfeeding Mums

The home of Ulster Rugby, the Kingspan Stadium, is to facilitate a supportive environment for breastfeeding mums as it joins the Public Health Agency's Breastfeeding Welcome Here initiative.

The club took the decision to join the scheme, which highlights businesses and venues that support breastfeeding, based on its inclusive and family-friendly brand.

Sara-Louise Bowan, Event Manager at Ulster Rugby, said: "Lots of mums come here with their babies, lots of tiny babies with their ear-defenders, they can enjoy the game and they are welcome to breastfeed wherever they're comfortable, but if they do want a quiet space we have that in the main grandstand where there's a dedicated area where they can have a sit down and be comfortable on a busy match night.

"It's important that mums feel comfortable coming here for a match night and there's somewhere quick and convenient to go to breastfeed if that's where they feel most comfortable."

The announcement comes during World Breastfeeding Week, 01-07 August. Breastfeeding Welcome Here advertises firms who have pledged to welcome mothers who need to feed their babies by displaying a sticker and certificate. As part of their commitment, Ulster Rugby will now ensure all staff are made aware of the need to be supportive of mothers.

Janet Calvert, the PHA's lead for breastfeeding said: "Ulster Rugby joining Breastfeeding Welcome Here is such a positive thing for breastfeeding families. It helps increase awareness about breastfeeding and importantly it gets the message out there to young men and the families that are coming to enjoy rugby that babies have to be fed and they can be breastfed no matter where they are.

"We're regularly adding new members to the scheme and while a mum can of course breastfeed wherever she wishes, Breastfeeding Welcome Here lets mums see where a business has committed to supporting breastfeeding. This can often take the pressure off a mother by showing this is a friendly environment where the needs of a breastfeeding mum will be met."

Visit the PHA website for more details on the over 800 venues in the scheme and information on all the types of support available for breastfeeding mums and their families.



(JG/CM)