| National Breastfeeding
Awareness Week highlights support needed for breastfeeding
mums
Today
the importance of peer support during breastfeeding was highlighted
at a seminar Developing and sustaining peer support programmes
for breastfeeding organised by the Health Promotion Agency
for Northern Ireland (HPA) to coincide with this year’s
National Breastfeeding Awareness Week.
The theme of National
Breastfeeding Awareness Week is the importance of support
for breastfeeding mums and the seminar brings together a range
of health professionals including health promotion commissioners,
Surestart coordinators, peer support workers, health visitors
and midwives to highlight the vital role peer support plays
in helping mothers breastfeed.
Janet Calvert,
Regional Breastfeeding Coordinator with the HPA, said: “In
essence peer support is when someone who has successfully
breastfed themselves, and has undergone some training on breastfeeding,
is available from the local community to support a breastfeeding
mum. Sometimes breastfeeding mothers can feel isolated - as
if they are the only person breastfeeding. Simply knowing
that another breastfeeding mum is available and willing to
provide support by phone or face to face can make a really
big difference.
“We know
from research that good peer support and health professional
support has a significant impact on a mum’s decision
to continue breastfeeding. Staying with the decision to breastfeed
isn’t always easy, especially if a mother is experiencing
problems with breastfeeding or when a mother is feeling particularly
tired and unsupported in her decision. This is when peer support
can be invaluable.”
Sue Henry, Infant Feeding Coordinator, East Lancashire Hospitals
NHS Trust, also spoke at the seminar and highlighted how a
commitment between acute hospital Trust staff and the peer
supporters has dramatically strengthened breastfeeding support
there. She also drew attention to the work involved in the
Little Angels project, which was recently highlighted by the
Channel 4 programme Extreme Breastfeeding.
She said: ‘’Peer
support is a highly beneficial intervention which could achieve
significant increases in breastfeeding rates, both initiation
and duration. For a peer support programme to be successful
it requires financial and organisational commitment by the
Health Authority and coordinators. Peer supporters have the
knowledge of local needs and understand the approach needed
to influence change in their neighbourhood and communities.
Community development has a key role, bringing people together
and empowering individuals who will increase in confidence
and develop new skills. Nothing is impossible. The key is
in the vision and the belief, and the acceptance that the
best way forward isn’t always professionally led.”
In support of National
Breastfeeding Awareness Week the HPA has produced a range
of materials featuring local mums including posters promoting
the message that breastfeeding is good for baby, good for
mum. These will be available from Central Health Promotion
Resource Services in local Health and Social Services Board
areas.
END
Notes
to the Editor:
There will be a media facility at Ross Park Hotel on Wednesday
10 May from 11:30 - 12:00noon when Janet Calvert, Regional
Breastfeeding Coordinator, HPA and Susan Henry, Infant Feeding
Coordinator, East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust will be available
for interview.
More information
about breastfeeding can be found at www.breastfedbabies.org
For
further information contact:
Contact Jenny Dougan or Rosie McGaughey on 028 9031 1611. |
