Awareness week aims to boost mum and tot bond

New mum Maria Banel with baby Piotr gets some sound advice from infant feeding adviser midwife Michele Ogden

WORLD Breastfeeding Awareness Week will be celebrated with information stands and advice for new mums or mums-to-be at the Royal Oldham Hospital.

Staff from the infant feeding team will host information stalls in the Cafe Royal as part of the awareness week, which starts on Monday and runs until August 7.

The theme of this year's awareness week is "Breastfeeding: A key to sustainable development" and is designed to encourage people to think about how to value wellbeing from the start of life, how to respect each other and care for the world.

Jennifer Sager, Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust's lead midwife and infant feeding co-ordinator, said: "As a team we want to promote that breastfeeding is something done worldwide and can improve the health and wellbeing of all mothers and babies.

"Our aim this year is to encourage all mums to offer their new baby breast milk for its first feed.

"Ideally we would want all babies to have their first milk feed from mum whilst in skin to skin contact with each other as the benefits of just this one feed are second to none."

She added that studies have shown that the closeness that the baby feels with its mother increases brain development and promotes bonding between mum and baby.

It can also help to protect baby from gut bacteria as immunities built up by mum are passed through to her baby via her breast milk.

Mothers who breastfeed also have reduced risks of breast cancer, ovarian cancer and osteoporosis later in life and regain their pre-pregnancy weight more quickly. Breastfeeding also helps the womb to contract to its pre-pregnant state more quickly, reducing the likelihood of womb infections.

She continued: "World Breastfeeding Awareness Week is all about highlighting the various means of support that can help a mother to start and then continue breastfeeding for longer. After the first feed, mothers will be supported by their midwife and maternity team regarding how to successfully continue breastfeeding.

"This support will continue while they are in hospital and then in the community setting by midwives, health visitors and support groups.

"Mothers may choose that after the first feed that they no longer want to continue feeding in this way, and at Pennine Acute Trust we provide informed choice and will support all mothers regarding their chosen feeding method."

The stalls will be open at the Royal Oldham Hospital on Wednesday, August 3, and Friday, August 5, from 10.30am and 2.30pm.

There will also be stalls at the antenatal clinic at North Manchester General Hospital between 9.30am and 12.30pm at North Manchester General Hospital on Monday, August 1, and Wednesday, August 3.

The trust which also runs Fairfield General Hospital in Bury, Rochdale Infirmary and community services, has had UNICEF accredited status for 17 years at Oldham and ten years at North Manchester General Hospital.

The accreditation means that the hospitals have been externally assessed and demonstrated exceptional care for mothers and babies with regards to feeding, whether that be by breast or bottle.

Jennifer continued: "We want mothers to make an informed choice about the milk they give to their babies and have the support to breastfeed should they wish to do so."