Merseyside will be marking National Breastfeeding Week from Monday 17 June with a series of events organised by breastfeeding support workers across the area.
The week will kick off with a walk organised by breastfeeding peer-support group Liverpool Community Bambis from St George’s Hall to Chavasse Park in Liverpool ONE at 11.30am which is open to anyone who would like to show their support.
Most new mums in Liverpool breastfeed (55 per cent) compared to the average in England of 74 per cent. At six to eight weeks the Liverpool average drops to 35 per cent, compared to 43 per cent in the rest of England. However the number of Liverpool mums continuing to breastfeed has slowly been increasing over recent years.
The walk will be followed by events across the region each day:
Monday 17 June
• 9.30 -10.30am – Breakfast, Kensington Children’s Centre
• 11.30am-12.30pm – Breastfeeding Mums celebration, The Atkinson, Lord Street, Southport
• 12.30-4.30pm – Drop-in and baby massage. Home-Start hub, Wirral, CH43 9PH
Tuesday 18 June
• 9am – 3.30pm – Information stand with infant feeding team, Whiston Hospital, Knowsley
• 9.30 -11.30am Brunch, Granby Children’s Centre
• 10am-12pm – High tea at Wavertree Children’s Centre
• 11am -1pm Alder Hey Hospital breastfeeding information stand and games (main atrium)
• 12-1pm Widnes CC Breastfeeding Group celebration picnic, Ditton Library. Halton
• 1– 3pm – Afternoon Tea, Childwall and Woolton Children’s Centre
Wednesday 19 June
• 9am – 5pm – Information stand with infant feeding team, Whiston Hospital, Knowsley
• 10am-12pm – Breakfast and Free hand massage, Stoneycroft and Knotty Ash Children’s Centre
• 1 – 3pm – Afternoon tea at Home-Start Knowsley L36 9TB
• 12- 1.30pm – Afternoon Tea, Anfield Children’s Centre Breast Friends
Thursday 20 June
• 10am-2pm – Roadshow, talks and teddy bears’ picnic at Home-Start Hub, Wirral
• 10-11am – Celebration event at Crosby Lakeside Sefton L22 1RR
Friday 21 June
• 9.30-10.30am – Celebration, Canning Road Chapel, Southport PR9 7SS
• 10am-2pm – Whiston Hospital Drop in
• 10- 11am – Teddy Bears Disco, County Children’s Centre
• 10-11am – BF Support Sefton and Midwifery Event at May Logan Sefton L20 5DQ
• 12-2pm – Launch Bump to Bosom Buddies – Meet and Greet at Mothercare, Prescot
• 1-3pm – Baby Café Celebration High Tea with Read and Rhyme, Netwon-le-Willows Library
Saturday 22 June
• 12-4pm Community Fun Day, The Old Rough in Northwood, Kirkby
For further information during the week follow Liverpool Community Bambis on Twitter @bambisliverpool or join their Facebook group www.facebook.com/groups/Bambis1/
Sandra Davies, Liverpool’s Director of Public Health said: “We’ve made real progress in Liverpool encouraging new mums to choose breastfeeding for their babies and much of that is thanks to the commitment of Liverpool Hospital and Community Bambis as well as our health visitors.
“Breastfeeding for even a short period gives children the best start in life and National Breastfeeding Week is a chance for us to celebrate how far we’ve come and engage with expectant parents about how important it is.”
Danielle Price, of Liverpool Community Bambis said: “We’re really proud of what we have achieved in Liverpool especially with how we have been able to engage with businesses across the city to ensure that they are breastfeeding friendly.
“National Breastfeeding Week is a great way for us to keep the conversation going and we’d encourage everyone to come along to our walk on Monday.”
