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New mums get Lifeline
| Author: Elspeth Paisley, LifeLine Projects | Published: 9th November 2009 18:59 |
Launch of Totally Mums, breastfeeding peer supporters programme
LifeLine's two year Breastfeeding Peer Supporters programme got off to a great start at the official launch event on Monday October 19th.
Parents, children, local midwives, health visitors, La Leche League and members of the council gathered to congratulate the voluntary peer supporters who graduated from the pilot programme. Avril McIntyre welcomed guests, speaking of LifeLine's observation of visionary leaders of programmes or services who have often started out as volunteers. Pam Caldeira, the Breastfeeding Peer Support Programme Co-ordinator was one such person. Pam commented ‘It's all about Mums supporting Mums - empowering at a crucial time in their lives'.
Funded by Barking and Dagenham NHS and delivered by LifeLine, the supporters will be available to help parents in Queens and King George's Hospitals as well as offering a support group at Valence children's centre and by appointment at children's centres throughout the borough.
Frances Frost, one of the graduating peer supporters speaking at the event observed on the birth of her third child ‘there was very little support for Mums on hospital wards. I could see that the staff at the hospital were very stretched, and so I started to help other Mums on the ward. Having done the excellent La Leche League training I'm looking forward to going into hospital as a peer supporter'.
Key speaker Dr Justin Varney, Assistant Director of Health Improvement, Barking and Dagenham PCT spoke from the heart as he described his days of walking on the wards cradling babies for tired Mums and hard working nurses. He observed his own sister's stress and fear saying ‘what's really sad is that most of my sister's friends were not able to breastfeed. The great thing about this course is having people who can walk the path with you'. Dr Varney endorsed LifeLine's progress saying ‘This is a huge success, a huge credit to LifeLine and a huge credit to the peer supporters for completing the training. This is one of the programmes that does actually save lives - to have someone come alongside you at the difficult points to reassure are the times that make a difference not only as an individual, but to the community.'
Christine Pryor, Head of Integrated Family Services at LBBD spoke about her own passion for the benefits of breastfeeding saying ‘breastfeeding not only has health and parental bonding benefits, but also is practical, economic and environmental. Mothers need support and practical advise, especially in the early stages when exhaustion sets in. The best person to support is another Mum who's passionate about breastfeeding.'
LifeLine House, Neville Road,
Dagenham Essex RM8 3QS
T: 020 8597 2900
More information about LifeLine can be found on our website
at www.lifelineprojects.co.uk
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