Local mums give their support to National Breastfeeding Awareness Week

Press release and photo opportunity
Tuesday 12th May

A group of Downend mums are running a series of activities as part of National Breastfeeding Awareness Week, which runs from 11th – 18th May.

Downend Feeding Friends Breastfeeding Support Group has arranged a week of activities including a sponsored buggy push, graduation award ceremony and special antenatal classes for grannies. The events are:

On Wednesday 13th May a sponsored buggy push will start from Emerson’s Green Library to help raise money buy books for the Feeding Friends Breastfeeding Support Group.
On Thursday 14th May, volunteer mums who have been trained to offer help support to other breast feeding mums will attend a graduation ceremony to receive their certificates.

Women have also been invited to bring their mums along to antenatal class today to find out how they can support their daughters or daughters’-in-law.

Lesley Causon, Senior Health Improvement Specialist from NHS South Gloucestershire says: “Supporting mums to breastfeed is essential, especially support from their partners, family and friends. The activities being organised by Downend Feeding Friends, led by Midwife Judith Bird, will help awareness of the importance of breastfeeding and encourage mums to start and continue to breastfeed.”

Displays to raise awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding will be in various Health Centres and Sure Start Children Centres around the area. The campaign will be used to start a directory of breastfeeding friendly places in South Gloucestershire.

For more information about the campaign please contact Lesley Causon Senior Health Improvement Specialist, NHS South Gloucestershire on 0117 330 2450.

For more information about the Downend events contact Judith Bird, Midwife, Downend Clinic on 0117 330 2505.

PHOTOCALLS

1. There is a photo opportunity at the ‘buggy push’ by mums of the Downend Feeding Friends Breastfeeding Support Group on Wednesday 13th May, 10.30 a.m. at Emerson’s Green Library, Emerson Way, Emerson’s Green, BS16 7AP.

2. There is a photo opportunity at the Award Ceremony for Peer Supporters on Thursday 14th may, 7.45 p.m. at Downend Clinic, 1 Buckingham Gardens, Downend, BS16 5TW (ENTRANCE THROUGH LIBRARY)

For more information please call Sue Pratt, NHS South Gloucestershire, Tel: 0117 330 2499 or mobile 07502 185 701.

Editors notes:

National Breastfeeding Awareness Week (11th – 18th May) has been running since 1993 to raise awareness of the health benefits of breastfeeding, to increase social acceptance of and promote support for breastfeeding.

The health benefits for babies include: