'We're Breastfeeding Friendly Longford' Launched in Edgeworthstown Library

The Launch of the ‘We’re Breastfeeding Friendly Longford’ launch took place today in Edgeworthstown Library, hosted by the Longford County Council.

The initiative aims to normalise breastfeeding and support breastfeeding mothers through community support and collaborate with Longford businesses and organisations to deliver these supports for women across the county.

The initiative is headed up by the Healthy Longford Coordinator, Laura McHugh. Laura is no stranger when it comes to projects that champion supporting women, she also set up the Period Dignity Initiative which provides free menstrual products in organisations throughout the county.

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Laura was kind enough to speak with the Longford Leader at the event regarding the inception of this initiative.

“I am the Healthy Ireland coordinator for Longford, a lot of Healthy Ireland counties have done a Breastfeeding initiative for their counties.”  she explains.

“I’m also a new mother so I had the interest based on that to look into this initiative but it was also through feedback.”

This feedback came from Cuidiú, a parent support charity that also supplies and trains breastfeeding counsellors. 

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Ciara Reilly, a breastfeeding support counsellor in the charity spoke  at the event and spoke with the Longford Leader.

“Limerick has done it, Waterford has done it and now Longford has done it and Laura McHugh who is in the council is really spearheading this.”

“There's a lot of different organisations involved and Laura has brought them all together and formed this collaborative group.”

Ms McHugh is organising a revamp of the feeding room in Longford Shopping centre as well as collaborating with Longford Libraries to make feeding friendly spaces.

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Ms Reilly highlighted the importance of having spaces like these , explaining, “ Mothers who have agency over how to feed their babies are going to have better mental health and a more content existence.”

“Mothers who can’t feed their baby the way they want to, they’ve lost that agency,”

Leas-Cathaoirleach Councillor Peggy Nolan and Councillor Uruemu Adejinmi both spoke at the event. As well as the Chief Executive of Longford County Council Paddy McMahon. 

Mothers and their babies were present at the event as well, many of them were members of these support groups like Cuidiú.