Breastfeeding peer supporters

Breastfeeding peer supporters

Volunteering for NHS KirkleesVolunteers enhance the work we do for local people. Our support staff can help you work out where your expertise could be best used.

If you are interested in becoming a breastfeeding peer supporter or any other type of volunteer contact:

Christine Stephen, Community and Volunteer Engagement

Officer on 07534 260943 or email Christine.stephen@kirklees.nhs.uk

Reference: CS2764 Date of publication: Jan 09

© Kirklees Primary Care Trust www.kirklees.nhs.uk

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Who are breastfeeding peer supporters?They are mums who are enthusiastic about breastfeeding and feel they can give friendly encouragement to others.

How does breastfeeding peer support help mums?Local research has told us that mums trying to breastfeed can feel isolated and receive conflicting information. Mums often felt they had little contact with other mums who were breastfeeding.

Mums who have breastfed their children say that the following things were the most useful in helping them overcome difficulties:

• Someonewithtimetogivethemthehelptheyneed.

• Helpwithgettingthebabylatchedonproperly.

• Moreinformationaboutbreastfeedingdifficulties and how to overcome them.

• Morecontactwithlocalmumswhoarealsobreastfeeding.

• Knowledgeaboutwholocallytogotoformorespecialised help.

What skills do I need to be a breastfeeding peer supporter?You will:

• havebreastfedyourownchildren

• liveintheKirkleesarea

• beabletogivefriendlyencouragement

• beabletoofferconfidentialsupportasonemum to another.

What kind of training would I receive?All breastfeeding peer supporters attend a 10 week training course held locally. This will give you the knowledge and practical skills you need to support breastfeeding mums. You can bring your children with you to the training if you would like to.

A certificate of completion will be given at the end of the training.

What would I need to do?Breastfeeding peer supporters offer support to mums in groups either based in community centres, Children’s Centres or GP surgeries. Supporters mingle with mums and chat to them to share their own experiences of breastfeeding, helping them to overcome their worries and pointing them in the right direction for more specialist help.

Baby Bistro – breastfeeding support group There are several ways for local parents to get in contact with trained peer supporters in Kirklees. Breastfeeding drop-in groups called ‘Baby Bistro’ are being set up in the community. Baby Bistros are meeting places at a local Children’s Centre or community centre which are accessible for parents with prams and pushchairs, are suitably sized and provide a crèche, nappy changing and food warming facilities. Trained peer supporters will be able to provide one-to-one contact to mums in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

After three days of trying on my own,

getting more and more painful nipples, I decided to get help. Two days later, I had no pain at all. My baby was more settled and we really began to enjoy breastfeeding. I wish I’d asked sooner.

It can be really helpful to have someone who

knows about breastfeeding sitting with you as you feed your baby, especially if that person can be there from before you start to when your baby has finished feeding.