AN initiative has been launched to make places such as cafes and museums more welcoming to new mums and their babies.

Training will be offered to staff, and participating businesses and community organisations will display stickers demonstrating their support of the scheme.

Behind the Compassion for Mums Well-being project is Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust, which says many women feel nervous about going out in public with their baby and choose not to – leading to social isolation.

Perinatal mental health affects up to 20 per cent of women during pregnancy and in their first year after giving birth.

As part of the scheme, workers are encouraged to offer practical help to mums – from holding-open doors to carrying drinks to tables – and give them more time and space when ordering.

The venture will operate across Bradford, Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven.

Lisa Milne, the care trust’s clinical lead for perinatal mental health, urges businesses and organisations to show their support.

“Signing-up only takes a minute and can make a real difference,” she said.

“We are also asking mums to nominate places where they feel relaxed in the local area and we will get in touch with those places to encourage them to join the scheme.

“The project gives businesses and community settings a simple way to support children’s health and help reduce isolation, which can be a real challenge for new parents.

“Our staff will offer short training sessions with organisations that are signed-up to the scheme to help raise awareness of how they can offer warmth and compassion to mums during the perinatal period, in what can be a challenging time.

“An easily-recognisable Compassion for Mums Well-being sticker will be displayed by premises. And organisations will also share information with their staff and volunteers about why taking part is important to support parent-infant wellbeing.”

Among those welcoming the venture is mother-of-two Amy Harrison.

“It would have encouraged me to go out much earlier and meet other mums locally – which I didn’t have the confidence to do initially,” she said.

“I really struggled with my two children for the first 12 months as I could never manage a double pram, two high chairs, feeding one and breastfeeding another whilst I was out.

“I sometimes found after returning from the toilet with them in cafes that my table had been cleared by staff – despite my pram and belongings still being there – and it just wasn’t worth the hassle.

“A scheme like this where staff are encouraged to have empathy and an understanding would have really helped me and I’m sure other mums in a similar situation.

“I would definitely have done a search of local places for the identifiable sticker and would have planned to meet friends there as it would be a friendly and non-judgemental venue.”

Businesses and organisations interested in signing-up to the scheme should e-mail compassionformumswell-being@bdct.nhs.uk