Peer Supporters celebrate Breastfeeding Awareness Week with family picnics

Monday 19 May marks the start of Breastfeeding Awareness Week, a national awareness week which aims to promote the benefits of breastfeeding.

Breast Friends a Scarborough-based voluntary peer support group, which aims to support breastfeeding women, will be marking the week with a fundraising event – a family fun picnic held in Scarborough’s beautiful Crescent Gardens.

The picnic and fundraising event will be held at the Crescent Gardens, between 11am and 1.30pm.

An event will also take place in Whitby when a family fun picnic will be held in Whitby’s Community Gardens on Friday 23 May from 12noon.

Maria White, Peer Supporter, said: “Anyone is invited to come and join in the fun. Our trained supporters will be on hand for any further information or enquiries on antenatal classes, breastfeeding support and play groups.”

The events are being supported by York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Jacqui Mortimer, Midwife and Infant Feeding Coordinator at Scarborough Hospital, said: “We are currently working with UNICEF and the Baby Friendly Initiative to increase breastfeeding rates and to improve care for all mothers.

“Peer support is an excellent way for women who want to breastfeed, but who may be struggling, to receive support from women who have personal and practical experience of breastfeeding.

“Breast feeding has many benefits to both the mother and baby. It doesn’t cost a penny and you need any special equipment. It can also help mum to regain her shape more quickly after childbirth as well as helping develop a strong emotional bond with her baby. Research shows that it can also reduce the risk of pre-menopausal breast and ovarian cancer.

“Breastfeeding also makes a difference for the baby in that it provides perfect nutrition for the first six months as well as having other health benefits, such as preventing stomach bugs, chest and ear infections, asthma, eczema and allergies and reducing the likelihood of obesity in later life.”

Further information about breastfeeding can be sought from your midwife, health visitor and voluntary support groups.

To contact Breast Friends email breastfriendsscarborough@gmail.com.

Yor Baby - Online Antenatal Classes

To watch the Trust's online antenatal class about breastfeeding click here.  

13 May 2014