READING Council is supporting World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7).

A number of council venues, including Reading sports and leisure centres, Reading Museum and all Reading library branches, as well as children's centres run by Brighter Futures for Children, are all proud to welcome breastfeeding mums.

READ MORE: Reading Festival tickets sold out

All Reading Sport and Leisure sites are breastfeeding friendly and breastfeeding mums are welcomed at all activities for under 5s.

To find activities for younger children, click here.

Being ‘Breastfeeding Friendly’ includes welcome breastfeeding mums in public areas, displaying ‘Breastfeeding Friendly’ logos, providing appropriate seating for breastfeeding mums and offering a discrete area for feeding if requested.

The council is also supporting a breastfeeding event on August 1 at Whitley Health and Social Services Centre from 9.30am to 12.30pm.

The free event, organised by Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust, will have health visitors and breastfeeding champions on hand to offer support and advice to mums.

There will be raffles with prizes and the chance to socialise with other parents.

Free baby massage sessions are also available.

To book a place, contact kirstie.burrows@berkshire.nhs.uk.

The theme of World Breastfeeding Week 2019 is ‘Empower Parents and Enable Breastfeeding.’

For more information on World Breastfeeding Week visit http://worldbreastfeedingweek.org.

Cllr Graeme Hoskin, Reading’s lead member for Health and Wellbeing, said: "It is important for mums to feel comfortable and supported when breastfeeding in public.

"As England has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world – 80 per cent of babies are breastfed at birth and only 1 per cent are exclusively breastfed by six months – the council is keen to support efforts to ensure that every child has the best start in life.

"If you are a new mum and would like support and advice on breastfeeding, I’d encourage you to drop in on the event on August 1 at Whitley Health and Social Services Centre."

New mum, Iva, from Reading, said: "I felt very anxious about the prospect of breastfeeding in public to begin with but I was lucky enough to have a some positive experiences early on which I feel made a huge difference.

"Feeling safe and welcome in public to do something that special for your child is so important for any breastfeeding mother."