Breastfeeding events hosted to support families in Derbyshire
The Breastfeeding Network in Derbyshire hosted three latch-on events to promote their free support drop-in sessions, which are now running regularly at 20 venues across the county.
The experienced volunteer breastfeeding peer supporters running the events were very pleased to welcome mums, dads, health professionals and children of all ages to the sessions.
The 44 families attending ranged from mums-to-be and families with very young babies, to parents who were considering weaning their babies and others who were interested in training to be breastfeeding peer supporters.
Young mum Malvina, who attended a latch-on event at the Bluebell Tea Room in Swadlincote with her 11-month-old daughter, said: “The meet-up was lovely! It’s very helpful to listen to different breastfeeding stories and ask for any advice.”
Lucy, who attended the same session at the Bluebell Tea Room in Swadlincote with her 15-month-old daughter, added: "Everyone was super friendly and welcoming, it is such a nice venue and the perfect opportunity to meet other mums and fellow breastfeeding mums too."
Catherine Hine, Breastfeeding Network CEO, said: “We are looking forward to many more years, showing up for mums and families in Derbyshire, as and when you need us!”
Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust provides NHS support to parents through its health visiting services and is glad to work in tandem with the Breastfeeding Network on providing support to parents and parents-to-be around infant feeding.
The breastfeeding volunteers in Derbyshire are all managed by the Breastfeeding Network who train, supervise and support their development and the development of breastfeeding groups.
Breastfeeding volunteers aren’t healthcare professionals or health visitors, they’re mums who have breastfed and had further training on breastfeeding and how to support breastfeeding families. They’re there to listen to you, reassure you when breastfeeding is going well or signpost you to other resources when it isn't.
To find out more about your local drop-in sessions and opportunities to train as breastfeeding peer supporters, visit Breastfeeding Network Derbyshire on Facebook or Instagram.