Published on: 1 August 2022
Bunting and banners are at the ready for a celebration which will bring together mams as part of a support network launched to help them breastfeed their baby.
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust is marking World Breastfeeding Week, which is now underway and runs until Sunday, August 7.
A range of events and activities are planned across its communities and maternity services to help encourage parents and offer support to those who feel they are struggling.
The celebrations come in addition to a wealth of help offered by the Trust, including breastfeeding support workers, encouragement of skin-to-skin contact and classes on feeding.
On Wednesday, August 3, South Tyneside Early Excellence Children’s Centre in Campbell Park Road in Hebburn, behind Keelman’s Way School, will host a Breastival, which will feature stalls, sensory craft activities for babies and children and a music session led by a performer.
A wellness workshop will offer families the chance to try yoga poses and light exercises, while the breastfeeding support will feature resources, information on groups they can join and a trivia quiz to help them learn more.
Goody bags will also be on offer, with refreshments, fruit kebabs and sweet treats lined up.
On Friday, August 5, a relaxed and informal brunch will be held at All Saints Children’s Centre in Whitehall Street in Tyne Dock, South Shields, with craft activities, play and refreshments planned.
The centre is supporting this event with funding for sensory activities, a music session and decorations.
Cheryl Rutherford, a Community Nursery Nurse with the Trust’s 0 to 19 Team, and Gemma Maughan, an Outreach Worker for South Tyneside Council, are among those to support families across the borough.
They run sessions from the Hebburn centre on Wednesdays and the Tyne Dock venue on Fridays, with both held from 11am to noon.
Cheryl said: “Breastfeeding groups give mam's the chance to meet others, share experiences and know they are not alone.
"We are here to offer support and advice and help them to have a successful breast-feeding journey. “We’re really looking forward to World Breastfeeding Week because it gives us the chance to celebrate the support available and encourage them to come along to one of our groups.
“It’s been great to see mams come in, to help them and to see their confidence grow, because sometimes they come in and they’re quite shy, but they’re among friends and everyone always makes them feel welcome.”
Cheryl Rutherford, a Community Nursery Nurse for South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, and Gemma Maughan, Outreach Worker for South Tyneside Council, with the Hebburn group.
Councillor Anne Hetherington, the council’s Lead Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing, added: “These groups offer a really supportive environment and they’re very valued and that is evident from how many now join in.
“I would encourage people to pop into the groups and the events we have coming up to find out more about how important breastfeeding is for children to have the best start in life.”
Councillor Adam Ellison, Lead Member for Children, Young People and Families added: “Supporting families is one of the Council’s priorities so it is great to see so much support being offered to new mams.
“The breastfeeding groups at our children's centres are a vital network for breastfeeding mothers. These groups play a key role in encouraging women to feed their babies for longer, which provides both mother and baby with protection and benefits."
