Baby Cafe to urge breast feeding

Expert medical advice is on the menu at the breastfeeding cafe

A cafe which aims to persuade new mothers to breastfeed their babies has opened its doors in rural Stirling.

The project, which is based on similar centres in the United States and New Zealand, offers help and advice to pregnant women and new mothers.

The Baby Cafe is being led by health visitors from NHS Forth Valley who will also be on hand to offer women one-to-one chats.

It will operate from the McClintock Hall in Balfron in West Stirlingshire.

The project is being funded by The Baby Cafe Charitable Trust.

NHS Forth Valley said it hoped the centre would become a trailblazer for the rest of Scotland.

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."