Staff from Northumberland Care Trust's breastfeeding team have developed a breastfeeding friendly award which businesses can apply to be part of.
Many local businesses, all libraries in Northumberland and several leisure centres have welcomed the award and have agreed to be a part of the scheme.
The award has been developed to celebrate breastfeeding awareness week 2008 which is running fro
m May 11-17.
Community nursery nurse Karen Black said: "The award asks that the premises welcome breastfeeding women and allows women to feel reassured that they will not be challenged or put in an embarrassing situation if they are out and about and need to feed their baby.
"Breastfeeding is a major public health issue in our county, there are many health benefits for both mother and baby which include lowering the risk of breast and ovarian cancer in women and reducing the risk of infections, obesity, coronary heart disease and diabetes in the baby.
"Research carried out locally also found that women who have a successful breastfeeding experience are likely to have increased self esteem, self confidence and may look more carefully at the whole family diet."
For further information about the award, contact Janet Patterson on 01670 843137.
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