Breastfeeding

And so I find that we are in the middle of World Breastfeeding Awareness Week and the theme for this year is "Breastfeeding: A Vital Emergency Repsonse". The aim of the week is to highlight the importance of breastfeeding especially in emergency situations around the world in developing countries. The rationale for this is that children are more vulnerable in emergency situations and that child mortality can increase dramatically from 2 to 70 times higher than average on account of diarrhoea, respiratory illness and malnutrition. In these situations, breastfeeding is a life saving intervention.

Back on home turf, the issues surrounding breastfeeding are, on the face of it, far more mundane but no less contentious for it. A recent survey carried out by Mother & Baby magazine asked 1200 breastfeeding mothers how breastfeeding friendly the UK is. I'm saddened but, unfortunately, not shocked to hear that 60% of mothers thought that the UK is not breastfeeding friendly. The full story makes interesting reading and I urge you to take a look by clicking on this link.

If you want more information on breastfeeding take a look at:
The Breastfeeding Network
The NCT Information Centre

In North Wales there are also the following breastfeeding support groups:
Bangor - Sackville Clinic (01248 362735)
Broughton - Broughton Clinic (Fiona Lee: 07913 658511)
Buckley - Westwood Centre (Fiona Lee: as above)
Caergwrle - Caergwrle Clinic (Fiona Lee: as above)
Conwy - St Mary's Church Hall (Susan Jones: 01492 593402)
Deeside - Sure Start Centre (Fiona Lee: as above)
Wrexham - Ma's Bar, Llay Resource Centre (01978 859020)
Wrexham - Ma's Bar, Chirk Clinic (01691 773581)
Wrexham - 24 hours helpline at Wrexham Maelor Hospital (01978 291100)

And, for support groups in and around the Chester area take at look at this page on the NCT website.

Finally, any clients who are considering breastfeeding their baby can ask me for a free sample of Lansinoh Lanolin.

Tracy x