A volunteer-led breastfeeding support service has been launched to provide pregnant and new mothers with practical and emotional support when breastfeeding.
Commissioned by North West Boroughs Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, the service is managed by Netherton Feelgood Factory, a community-led healthy living centre, operating in Sefton. It will rely on ambassadors with a passion for supporting new mums working alongside midwives, health visitors and children’s centres.
The new service forms part of the Trust’s healthy child programme which provides services for children and young people from birth to age 19 across Sefton.
The service officially launched at the end of June to coincide with the end of Breastfeeding Awareness Month.
The service will include antenatal and postnatal care designed to support breastfeeding mums in a variety of ways, including group, phone, one-to-one support and support through social media.
Gill Hughson, Breastfeeding Support Sefton Coordinator at the Netherton Feelgood Factory, said: “The service has been designed not only with input from health professionals, but also with local breastfeeding mums, who give valuable insight into what they feel is necessary to support them to breastfeed successfully. They also named the service – ‘Breastfeeding Support Sefton’.
“We felt mums should be included in all aspects of a service that is for them. We welcome ambassadors from all walks of life, women of all ages; breastfeeding experience is not necessary and we also welcome students who may be working towards qualifications requiring a volunteering element. Some roles require completion of a training course, but there are ways of getting involved without training.”
Dot Tinsley, Operational Manager for North West Boroughs Healthcare in Sefton, said: “This is a really exciting opportunity to provide local support for breastfeeding mothers in Sefton and I am hopeful we will get lots of people interested in becoming ambassadors for this new volunteer support service. The collaboration between the community, the Feelgood Factory, our commissioners in Sefton Council’s Public Health Department and the Trust to make this happen has been fantastic.”
If you are interested in becoming a breastfeeding ambassador and supporting mums across the borough, please contact Breastfeeding Support Sefton on 07752 661408 or Netherton Feelgood Factory on 0151 291 8010.
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