In honor of World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7), Beijing officials have announced a plan to begin adding nursing rooms into public restooms and facilities and to include them in future urban planning, South China Morning Post reports.
In recent years, numerous complaints have been issued about the lack of facilities in the capital. The lack of privacy to breastfeed in public areas has led to awkward situations, and even public scrutiny, for many mothers who have no choice but to breastfeed in public.
According to the National Health and Family Planning Commission breastfeeding has become increasingly popular in the capital in recent years due to its health benefits. In 2008, roughly 27 percent of babies were solely breastfed during the first six months. The number spiked to around 58 percent in 2013.
Wang Guoqiang, deputy minister of the commission, said that the commission would like to help support the growing number of breastfeeding mothers in the capital.
“We will coordinate and push the relevant authorities to integrate nursing room construction into relevant regulations and urban planning plans to address the deficiency of nursing rooms and an environment that has caused widespread public concern,” Wang said during a World Breastfeeding Week event in Beijing.
The repeal of the one-child policy has made the issue all the more relevant, since the capital will likely see a spike in births.
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