World Breastfeeding Week 2014: August 1-7

Mums who have breastfed their children are being encouraged to step forward and sign up as a peer supporter to help others give their babies the best possible start in life.

The call has gone out from Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust (NCH&C) in the run up to World Breastfeeding Week, which takes place from August 1 to 7. The Trust is looking for mums to join its growing army of ‘breastfeeding friends’, who support others to breastfeed, in turn ensuring their babies receive all the vital nutrients they need as well as protection against a range of illnesses.

The role is open to anyone who has had personal and practical experience of breastfeeding and is willing to give up some of their free time to work alongside NCH&C’s Health Visiting team to support and encourage mums. Anyone who signs up will be able to complete an online course, run by the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers, and will be asked to help at breastfeeding groups, stay and play sessions, clinics, antenatal workshops and other classes.

Amanda Wagg, NCH&C’s Infant Feeding Lead, said: “We felt that World Breastfeeding Week was the perfect platform from which to encourage even more mums from across Norfolk to step forward and sign up as a breastfeeding friend.

“The friends play a valuable role and complement the work of our Health Visitors by using their own experiences to help support, empower, encourage, build confidence and educate other mothers. They will be given all of the training, help and support they may need and they only need to find a few spare hours to make a real difference.

“Breastfeeding protects babies against a wide range of serious illnesses, including gastroenteritis and respiratory infections in infancy as well as allergies and diabetes in childhood. It can also help protect mum too, by reducing the risk of some cancers.

“But breastfeeding isn’t always easy and lots of new mothers need support. We’re committed to making sure they get the help they need and look forward to signing up some more volunteers to help us to do just that.”

NCH&C is hoping to recruit around 60 new breastfeeding friends. They will work alongside the Trust’s existing peer supporters, which include Agnieszka Kaim-Kardas, who lives in King’s Lynn.

“I found it very difficult to breastfeed my daughter Amelia to begin with,” said the 33-year-old, who is married to Tomasz. “I couldn’t establish a proper latch and didn’t have anyone around to ask for advice.

“It was very challenging for 11 weeks, then I met a lovely Health Visitor who listened to what I was saying and the problems I was having and knew what to do straight away. She helped us to latch properly and we haven’t looked back since.

“I now use all of my knowledge to try and support other new mums because I know how important it is to have a helping hand. Having someone who knows what to look for and can give you a hand is vital and once you’ve learnt the skills, it gets so much easier.

“I would encourage anyone else in a similar position to me who thinks they may be able to help to consider signing up as a breastfeeding friend and support other women who may be having problems.”

Anyone interested in volunteering as a peer supporter should email: [email protected], and include details of where they live.

For more information about breastfeeding groups taking place across Norfolk, visit www.norfolkcommunityhealthandcare.nhs.uk/The-care-we-offer/Service-search/breastfeeding-support.htm or speak to your Health Visitor.

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Monarch Catering Services, Norfolk, Suffolk