An important NCT local breastfeeding service for new mums in Bradford is set to continue, as more funding is given.
Since 2015, the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council has funded NCT to provide breastfeeding support to mums in the area. Due to its great success, the contract has been awarded for a further 12 months.
The initiative wouldn’t have been possible without the amazing support of everyone involved. In the past 12 months, local mums who have trained to become breastfeeding peer supporters (Breastfeeding Buddies) have volunteered 1,279 hours.
Buddies made 1864 contacts in total, including on postnatal wards, group visits and home visits. The service also had 154 private Facebook messenger conversations and made 867 phone calls.
Breastfeeding Buddies offer their support at both Airedale and Bradford Royal Infirmary hospitals, as well as local breastfeeding groups. They attend antenatal events to promote the service to expectant parents.
Julie Newbold, Service Delivery Manager for Bradford Breastfeeding Buddies, said: “Having another year to deliver our service across the district is great news. We’ve built up good relationships with midwifery and health-visiting colleagues which is so important for our project’s success.
“To be recognised and appreciated for the positive difference our service makes to women’s infant feeding experiences is wonderful.”
One of the Breastfeeding Buddies, Bernie Morley, added: “Being able to support those women and their families when they’re at one of the most vulnerable points in their lives, to become more confident in their decision to feed their child, or to be able to inform them that there is lots of support for them outside the hospital setting, is so rewarding.
“My daughter now asks if I’m “going to help the babies” when I leave for my shift.
“It just confirms that I have an important job to do, empowering women with practical and emotional support, to help them feed their children in the way that they choose.”
Visit the Bradford Breastfeeding Buddies’ Facebook page to find out where they’ll be.
Discover how you can get breastfeeding support from NCT wherever you are in the country.
River, one of our Southampton Breastfeeding Peer Supporters, posts about what motivated her to help other mums to breastfeed on our Instagram page.
