Breastfeeding support offered
NEW mothers in a Widnes neighbourhood are being offered an interactive resource to help make breastfeeding a better experience.
Breastfeeding Friend (BFF) from Start4Life has been launched in Knowsley, which includes the Cronton area in Widnes.
It is accessed through Facebook messenger and provides personal support for mums at any time of the day or night.
The launch follows new research which reveals almost three quarters of new mums start breastfeeding (73%) but this drops to 40% after two months.
A new survey of 500 mothers of young children commissioned by Public Health England also shows that over half of mums were concerned whether their baby was getting too much or not enough milk.
Nearly three in 10 worried that breastfeeding could mean their baby might not be getting the right nutrients, indicating why mothers may stop breastfeeding at this early point.
The BFF has been designed to help dispel any breastfeeding myths and alleviate any concerns mums may have.
Mums-to-be and new mums can also find support in Cronton through Bosom Buddies, a friendly team of health professionals and local mums who have breastfed their own babies and want to help other mums do the same.
Knowsley and Sefton director of public health Matthew Ashton said: “While natural, breastfeeding, is something that all mums and their babies learn by doing. Mums tell us that after the first few weeks breast feeding becomes easier, so proper support is crucial at this time, which is where the BFF is designed to help.
“There’s also lots of advice, support and information available for mums in Knowsley from other local mums who have breastfed their own babies through Bosom Buddies, our peer support service.”
A Knowsley Council spokesman said that breastfeeding boosts a baby’s ability to fight illness and infection and infants who are not breastfed are more likely to get diarrhoea and respiratory infections.
There are benefits for mothers too as it lowers the risk of ovarian and breast cancer, and burns around 500 calories a day.
To find out more about Bosom Buddies visit: knowsleyccns.co.uk