MM Breastfeeding
We all know how important breastfeeding is to a baby’s health. But, equally, we all know that there can be difficulties involved. MM meets a pharmacist, who is helping to support breastfeeding mums.
Mums helping mums!
OK, so let’s start with the good news. The number of mums, who begin breastfeeding while they’re still in hospital has increased in the last five years from 47 per cent to 59.9 per cent. And the bad news? Well, by the time
they’re discharged, the number who are still breastfeeding is down by fourteen per cent to a disappointing 46 per cent. As a member of the National Childbirth
Trust, Newry pharmacist, Stephanie Haughey, was more than aware of the fact that around 80 per cent of mums admit that they stopped breastfeeding too soon or sooner than they wanted to. ‘When I gave birth to my first child Sophie eight years ago, breastfeeding
Ceire Doherty
‘The NCT wellbeing programme came at an excellent time for me. It started as I was returning to work after having my first baby. I was able to continue networking with mums and to get some great tips from facilitators on the course – from cooking family meals to some self-care and mindfulness. The health literature provided was also very beneficial.’
rates weren’t as high as they are now,’ she tells MM. ‘I managed longer periods of breastfeeding with each of my kids, which is why I’m keen to give women as much support as possible to continue feeding their children themselves. The World Health Organization recommends that children are breastfed until the age of two – although I appreciate that a lot of women won’t be comfortable doing it for that length of time – but it’s disappointing to see that only fourteen per cent of breastfeeding mothers are still doing so when their child hits the six-month mark.’ In a bid to provide advice and
information for women in the South Down/border area, Stephanie was delighted to be asked by the local branch of the NCT to provide support to their newly-established breastfeeding support group. ‘These groups are building right round
the North,’ Stephanie continues. ‘What I particularly love about them is that they’re run by whichever mums are on maternity leave at the time. It’s all about peer support – I, for example, am just on hand at the South Down one to answer any questions that the mums may have on health issues. ‘What’s even better is that the number of
groups is growing because volunteers are being trained to run their own groups, so the whole scheme is branching out in different areas. ‘In the groups we cover everything about
breastfeeding – from the simplest of questions such as ‘why does my baby seem to need feeding again after I’ve just fed him?’ to queries about drinking alcohol while breastfeeding etc. ‘As the groups have developed, so have
the number of health issues up for discussion. We focus totally on empowering women with the self-confidence to ask their healthcare professionals about various aspects of their health. This helps to ensure that any ‘myths’ about health are broken down and that women’s physical, emotional and mental health are all taken care of. ‘The great thing is that the groups have taken on a social angle as well. Kids are not
20 Modernmum
brought to the groups – it’s time for mums to get a break and to remember that they’re a person in their own right. Some of the groups have now developed a ‘Bumps and Buggies’ offshoot, where they go for three walks a week and then go for coffee!’
Stephanie Haughey
Roisin Toal
‘I feel so fortunate to have been able to attend this course. I have been to lots of courses since having my children but, until this programme, none focussed on ‘mummy’. Every week was so varied. I learnt something new every session and feel more confident at home with this knowledge. I also made some new friends along the way – which is always a good thing.’
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