This year’s theme for World Breastfeeding Week 2023 is ENABLING BREASTFEEDING
Making a difference for working parents
The Belfast Trust acknowledges that supporting breastfeeding has benefits to the organisation such as a reduction in staff absenteeism and turnover, as well as important health benefits for the breastfeeding parent and baby.
The Belfast Trust have a workplace policy to support breastfeeding employees upon their return to work – you can find this on the LOOP Policies & Guidelines – Breast Feeding Employees policy – Supporting – All Policies (sharepoint.com)
Your workplace will provide a suitable place for you to express that is lockable, clean and private. You are entitled to additional lactation breaks (usually 20 minutes once or twice a day as agreed with your line manager) during your working day. A temporary change to working arrangements should be considered to enable employees who wish to breastfeed following a return to work.
You can find further information about feeding your baby on the Infant feeding Hub via Sharepoint on The Loop Infant Feeding Hub – Home (sharepoint.com)
If you have any queries with returning to work as a breastfeeding parent, please do get in contact with a member of from Infant Feeding.
Barbara Spratt Maternity Infant Feeding Lead
Gillian Weir Infant Neonatal Feeding Lead
Gemma McBride Community Infant Feeding Lead
You can avail of our Trust Breastfeeding Back to Work Packs by contacting the Infant Feeding Team 028 961 50005, or your Health Visitor if you live within the Belfast Trust area.
Breastival Event
Breastival aims to support, normalise and celebrate breastfeeding as part of everyday life. Breastival is taking place on 1st August – 7th August 2023 with a range of face to face and online events. The face-to-face event is taking place on Saturday 5th August 10-3pm at Ulster Museum and Botanic Gardens. Please click here to see full agenda of events during the festival.
