Breastfeeding support for young mothers
Warwickshire’s Respect Yourself Campaign is reminding young parents about the options open to them when it comes to feeding their new born baby.
As part of National Breastfeeding Awareness Week (21 to 27 June 2010), the team is supporting the Department of Health’s annual campaign to raise awareness of the health benefits of breastfeeding and to make breastfeeding more acceptable.
Breastfeeding can reduce the risk of infection or disease in babies and it is important that support is available to mothers who want to feed their babies naturally. It is also important that it becomes more socially acceptable.
So Warwickshire’s Respect Yourself is supporting midwives and other professionals who aim to increase the number of mothers that breastfeed by ensuring young parents have access to the right information and support for them to make an informed choice about the best option for them.
In Warwickshire, midwives and health visitors offer young mothers support and there are also breastfeeding cafes in many children’s centres.
Antenatal classes dedicated to young parents called Providing Information and Positive Parenting Support (PIPPS) are run in Nuneaton and Bedworth, and explore the benefits of breastfeeding – as well as tackling any negative perceptions.
Kathy Siddle, Respect Yourself Campaign co-ordinator, said: “Just like older mums, young mums need a lot of support with their newborn baby. When it comes to feeding, we want to ensure they get all the information and support they need to make an informed decision that is right for them and their baby – whether that’s breastfeeding or bottle feeding.
“It is really important that young mums attend antenatal classes and that midwives and health visitors provide extra support if the young mum wants to breastfeed.
“Equally we would welcome more breastfeeding cafes dedicated to young mums, as they are more likely to attend and continue to attend if they are with their peers. At the end of the day our aim is to ensure that the young mum and their baby have the best start together.”
For more information regarding Warwickshire’s Respect Yourself Campaign or to find out more about relationships and sexual health, visit http://www.respectyourself.info.
To find out more about National Breastfeeding Awareness Week, visit http://www.breastfeeding.nhs.uk.