This week (1-7 August) is World Breastfeeding Week, an annual global campaign to raise awareness and galvanise action on themes relating to breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding has many benefits for both mother and baby and the World Health Organisation recommends exclusive breastfeeding until around six months with continued breastfeeding for as long as mother and baby wish to continue.
Deciding how to feed your baby is a very personal decision and we support all mothers to choose how they want to feed their baby. Our team also recognise the importance breastfeeding and we will support mothers to breastfeed for as long as they would like.
At Newcastle Hospitals we have a dedicated infant feeding team in our maternity department, 0-19 service and neonatal intensive care unit who support women who choose to breastfeed.
Lynne McDonald, maternity infant feeding coordinator at Newcastle Hospitals said: “World Breastfeeding Week is a chance for us to recognise the importance of breastfeeding and breastmilk for mothers and babies. We do however recognise that each mother will have their own story and not everyone is able to achieve the breastfeeding experience they’d hoped for. Some mothers breastfeed for a day, some for much longer but they have all given their baby something precious and should be proud.
“Having a baby is such a rewarding and challenging experience and we should congratulate all mothers, no matter how they decide to feed their babies for all that they achieve.”
Staff teams across Newcastle Hospitals recognise the importance of breastfeeding and our infant feeding team have worked with staff across the Trust to identify ways we can better support those who are breastfeeding.
Professor Kath McCourt is a non-executive director at Newcastle Hospitals and as well as being the President of the Commonwealth Nurses and Midwives Federation is also our Baby Friendly Guardian she said: “As a Non-Executive Director, a nurse and previously a midwife, I know how important this aspect of parenting is to mothers, families and professionals.
“I work closely with the Executive team and lead professionals within our maternity department, regularly visiting and meeting with our infant feeding team, so I can raise the awareness at the Board, remind them of the public health benefits and stimulate discussion.
“We continue to work to UNICEF Baby Friendly standards and our infant feeding team continue to influence and highlight the importance of building close and loving relationships between parents and babies.
“I am delighted that the Trust is celebrating World Breastfeeding Week and that it is part of this important global improvement initiative, bringing benefits to child and maternal health locally and regionally.”
You can find out more about World Breastfeeding Week here.
