Breast best as mums mark their cause

"I'll start feeding her, they'll be talking to me and talking to her, especially older couples, they'll 'blank' me. Whether or not they think they're giving me privacy or being respectful, it is quite isolating."

Motherhood has posed plenty of challenges for the 33-year-old mother-of-two.

"It was quite tough with my first daughter, she was born very small and jaundiced. She had trouble feeding and gained weight very slowly."

Ms Volpatti said joining the Australian Breastfeeding Association gave her confidence. She celebrated World Breastfeeding Week at the West Belconnen Child and Family Centre yesterday.

Community Services Minister Joy Burch attended the gathering and cut the breast-shaped celebration cake.

"It's really important for us as a Government and the community to support women. We need to focus on communication, and focus on information," Ms Burch said.

Revisiting the breastfeeding framework, which was introduced last year, Ms Burch impressed the need for public acceptance of breastfeeding.

"It's particularly important for women to be able to get out, go about their day, whether its shopping, work or recreation, but be able to be supported in breastfeeding."

Under the framework, mothers who return to work soon after their child is born will be able to comfortably continue breastfeeding. The initiative, which is being pushed by the Australian Breastfeeding Association and the ACT Government, aims to promote debate and acceptance.

Breastfeeding mothers will be entitled to a range of benefits proposed under the scheme, such as time out from their working day to feed or express milk for their baby.

The framework's main focus is on encouraging mothers to breastfeed for at least one year, as statistics illustrate significant health benefits for the mother and child. Ilaria Catizone and her daughter Elody, 13 months, also attended the celebrations.

"At the moment I'm willing to go for as long as she wants. People are starting to make comments ... but shell grow out of it, you dont see many 15-year-olds being breastfed."

Employers who provide nursing mothers with a fridge to store expressed milk, spaces to express or feed and time out from their working day to do so will be accredited as a Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace. Cafes and restaurants are also encouraged to provide breastfeeding friendly environments.

World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated in 170 countries around the world.