Newsdate: 20 November 2012
Local families, NHS and Council staff all attended a 1st year celebration event of the Wigan Breastfeeding Network Peer Support Service at St Wilfrid’s Parish Hall Standish.
The Breastfeeding Network Peer Support Service was commissioned jointly last year between NHS Ashton Leigh and Wigan and Wigan council and provides antenatal infant feeding information at workshops and in clinics across the Borough; postnatal breastfeeding support on the wards of Royal Albert Edward Infirmary Wigan and in mothers’ own homes; and run Breastfeeding Support Groups in Children Centres across the Borough. They work in close partnership with the Midwifery service, the Health Visiting service and Children Centres.
Wendy Spencer a local mother of three from Atherton states: ”The difference in support for mums who choose to breastfeed in Wigan between four years ago and today is huge. Four years ago I really struggled to breastfeed and felt there was very little help available. This time round my experience could not have been more different. There was lots of help on the Maternity ward at Royal Albert Edward Infirmary and this continued at home from the Breastfeeding Peer Support Service and at the Breastfeeding Support Group. With their help, encouragement and support I have managed to breastfeed my third daughter for twelve months, I only wish this help had been available for my first two children.”
Councillor Susan Loudon states: “The great thing about The Breastfeeding Service is that it is delivered by local mums who have been trained to offer all the support that mums need to breastfeed for longer. It is really positive to hear that local mums are making such a big difference for women in their community.”
For more information on the Wigan Breastfeeding Network Peer Support Service visit Wigan’s breastfeeding website http://www.mymummydoes.co.uk/ or ring the service on Tel: 01942 777903.