This week, we are celebrating World Breastfeeding Week. World Breastfeeding Week takes place on the 1st-7th August 2022, this year’s theme is ‘Step Up for Breastfeeding: Educate and Support’ with the aim to promote and support breastfeeding across the globe.
The teams at NCIC are keen to highlight the benefits of breastfeeding and aim to raise awareness of the help and advice available to women and families who are keen to breastfeed their babies.
The main message of the week is how amazing breastfeeding is and to highlight that help and support is available in your area if you need it.
Andrea Harriman, NCIC Infant Feeding Lead midwife and lactation consultant said:
“We want Mums to know we’re here to help, if you need support during your breastfeeding journey, please reach out and get the help you need. Breastfeeding provides the best start in life and has a positive impact on a baby’s development, from strengthening immunity and reducing the risk of infections to emotional bonding and building long term mental and physical resilience. Breastfeeding provides infants with all the nutrients they need but it also provides comfort, love and protection”
Bernice Radcliffe, NCIC Infant Feeding Lead midwife and lactation consultant said: “It also has a positive impact for mums and improves their health too by lowering the incidence of certain cancers, disease, depression and diabetes.”
Get involved this Breastfeeding Week
To celebrate our teams and support the global effort to protect and enlighten the importance of breastfeeding, NCIC are holding some breastfeeding events:
Barnardos ‘Picnic in the Park’
- When: Wednesday 3rd August at 2:30pm until 3:30pm
- Where: Southend Football Field, Penrith, CA11 8JH (behind Penrith Leisure Centre AstroTurf pitch)
- More details: Bring your own picnic. Booking not required. Contact 01768 899901 or enquires.eden@barnardos.org.uk for more information.
‘Virtual Big Latch’
- When: Friday 5th August at 10am until 11am
- Where: Microsoft Teams Contact
- Details and booking: Contact Laura.Rodgers2@ncic.nhs.uk for more information or to book
We encourage anyone who requires breastfeeding support or wishes to connect with others and celebrate the occasion to come along and take part.
What are the benefits of breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding has long-term benefits for mothers and their babies, lasting right into adulthood. Any amount of breast milk has a positive effect, the longer the duration of breastfeeding, the longer the protection lasts and the greater the benefits.
Breastfeeding can help to reduce your baby's risk of:
- infections, with fewer visits to hospital as a result
- diarrhoea and vomiting, with fewer visits to hospital as a result
- sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
- obesity
- cardiovascular disease in adulthood
Breastfeeding lowers your risk of:
- breast cancer
- ovarian cancer
- osteoporosis (weak bones)
- cardiovascular disease
- obesity
For more resources please visit: https://worldbreastfeedingweek.org/
