Breast, they say, is best. It’s not just a neat little slogan; it’s the truth. Lee Marlow hears from a group of breastfeeding mothers – including one mum who breastfed her youngsters until they were six.

They meet every Wednesday morning, at a little church behind Highcross shopping centre, in Leicester, to talk, to compare notes and to feed their tots the way nature intended – without people pointing or staring or whispering.

Although society is much more family friendly than it was 20 years ago, breastfeeding mums can quickly attract a sea of disapproving frowns and a hushed chorus of tutting, says Helen Ashley.

She set up Cafe Mama a year ago as a welcome refuge for breastfeeding mums.

"It is better today than it perhaps used to be," says Helen, 36, of Leicester. "But it is far from perfect.

"As a society, we haven't changed enough. I know mums do still get disapproving looks.

"Plus, there is still so much contrasting advice about breastfeeding."

Helen has two children, aged 10 and six, and is set to give birth to her third next month.

It would be something of an understatement to say that Helen is a big fan of breastfeeding.

She breastfed both her children, not just as babies and tots but as they grew up and started primary school.

"My first child was seven when I stopped breastfeeding and I'm still breastfeeding my youngest," she says.

"I know that might seem strange to some people and I know that breastfeeding them for so long is not what some people would consider normal.

"But I was convinced it was the best thing to do."

She's convinced she was right, too.

"My children are normal, well-balanced, healthy children," she says.

Neither of Helen's children has asthma, eczema or any other 21st-century allergy.

When they were small, they rarely had colds or any other minor ailments, she says.

It wasn't that they were transformed into some kind of superhuman, she points out – they still picked up the occasional bug – but they seemed to suffer less than some of their friends. They were rarely prescribed antibiotics.

"I'm sure that's because of the breastfeeding," says Helen.

"I didn't plan to breastfeed my children for as long as I did, and the older they are, the harder it is to stop because they're better at communicating and they are more demanding. They want to know why it's being stopped."

Every Wednesday, Helen and a group of mums meet at the Unitarian Church, in East Bond Street to chat and feed their babies. They're giving their babies the best start in life, says Helen.

The Department of Health recommends that babies are fed only breast milk for the first six months.

Research shows breast really is best. It's nutritional, boosts baby's immune system, is convenient and quick, helps mums to regain their pre-pregnancy figure and also helps mothers to bond with their children.

Most health professionals agree breastfeeding is far better than feeding your baby formula milk.

Yet official figures show that only one in every 100 mums breastfeeds her child for the first six months.

Earlier this month, a piece in Mother & Baby magazine, no less, suggested that breastfeeding was "creepy" and that it was little wonder that few mums breastfed their babies.

The writer, Kathryn Blundell, said she stopped breastfeeding after a few months. "I wanted my body back (and some wine). I also wanted to give my boobs at least a chance to stay on my chest rather than dangling around my stomach.

"I don't think I'm the only one: only 52 per cent of mums still breastfeed after six weeks. Ask most of the quitters why they stopped and you'll hear stories of agonising three-hour feeding sessions and cracked nipples.

"I often wonder how many of these women, like me, just couldn't be fagged or felt like getting a bit tipsy once in a while."

The piece attracted an avalanche of criticism, complaints to the Press Complaints Commission and the creation of a Facebook page calling on the writer to apologise.

At Cafe Mama, the mums were dismayed by the piece. Kerry Jenkinson, 32, of Melton, comes to Cafe Mama with her 18-month-old son, Otis.

"It's clearly the opinion of just one woman, but, nevertheless, if I had seen that article while I was pregnant it may have persuaded me not to breastfeed," says Kerry.

"I think if that happened to just one mother, that is terrible.

"The words she uses – arguing that breastfeeding is creepy – are just laughable."

Kerry decided to breastfeed after reading all the information from the World Health Organisation, which recommends you should aim to breastfeed your child until the age of two.

"It seemed like the best advice," she says. "Plus, the information given to me by the NHS and health visitors was so contradictory.

"My midwife told me I should stop breastfeeding after six months because there wasn't enough iron in my milk."

That's just not true, says Kerry. "There is less iron, yes, but there is still iron in the milk. Also, after six months, your baby needs less iron."

Cafe Mama was opened last year and became Leicester's first breastfeeding cafe. It's a great place for mums, says Kerry.

"It can still be tricky breastfeeding in public. It is still not as socially acceptable as it should be, especially, as in my case, your child is older.

"I'm as discreet as can be, I really am because I know some people don't like it. But really, should I have to be? It's a beautiful thing."

*Cafe Mama opens every Wednesday from 10am-12pm at Leicester's Unitarian Church, East Bond Street. For more information, call 0116 212 7166.