Breastfeeding Week backed
THE beginning of August marks the start of World Breastfeeding Week and mums are helping to spread the word of just how important it can be, for both mother and baby.
World Breastfeeding Week aims to educate mums, as well as mums-to-be, on the numerous health benefits of breastfeeding and to encourage women to choose it as their preferred method of feeding their baby.
Nurturing and promoting the parent-infant relationship is at the heart of the recently launched Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board Infant Feeding Strategic Plan that encourages parents to feel empowered and to enable breastfeeding.
Skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth can support early bonding between parents and children and is an important aspect of the plan.
New mum Alice Horwood, from Pwllheli, delivered, now eight month old Loli Mair via emergency C-section at Ysbyty Gwynedd, and received support from midwives and health visitors to start breast feeding.
She said: “I remember having lots of skin to skin time with my baby after she was born.
“I wasn’t able to do much following surgery, and a student midwife helped my baby latch and breastfeed.
“It was quite difficult to begin with because it hurts.
“My daughter wasn’t latching properly on one side but when the health visitor came round she helped me improve the latch on that side and it was much better.
“Breastfeeding has really worked for me and I’m pleased that I persevered even though it was difficult in the first few weeks.”