Baby cafe opens for new mothers

Expert medical advice is on the menu at the breastfeeding cafe

Scotland's first Baby Cafe is set to open its doors in the new year in a bid to encourage new mothers to breastfeed.

The cafe will open in Balfron in rural Stirling and will offer help and expert medical advice to pregnant women and new mothers.

The project is being led by health visitors from NHS Forth Valley who will also offer one-to-one chats.

The cafe will be launched on 13 January at the McClintock Hall and be available during term time.

It will cover the West Stirlingshire area which includes the villages of Aberfoyle, Balfron, Buchlyvie, Drymen, Killearn, Kippen and Strathblane.

Lorna Murray, a health visitor based at Killearn Health Centre, said: "I am hoping that this cafe will lead to women breastfeeding for longer, and give them a better experience.

"It's always comforting to have support from others and the cafe will help foster friendship between new mothers."