Building a healthier Gwynedd
Wednesday, 26 March 2008
As we note the National Breastfeeding Awareness Week (13- 19 May), a number of public agencies and private businesses throughout Gwynedd including Gwynedd Council have agreed to support a scheme which Welcomes Breastfeeding.
Gwynedd is the first County in Wales where all pharmacies have signed up to the scheme. During the week, the Gwynedd Strategic Breastfeeding Group will encourage businesses and agencies to become part of the Breastfeeding Friendly scheme. By joining the scheme they will be included on a special pamphlet which lists all the businesses and locations which welcome mothers and their babies.
The aim is that every property which has signed up to the scheme will display a poster which underlines that they welcome mothers to breastfeed their babies. Pamphlets with a list of shops will be handed out to new mothers at Ysbyty Gwynedd, and will be distributed to the homes by community midwives and health visitors.
Llinos Owen, Gwynedd’s Health and Wellbeing Coordinator, said:
We are pleased that a number of shops and businesses throughout the County including the Council are now part of this important scheme. Our aim is to make it easier for mothers to breastfeed their babies whilst they're out shopping or out for a walk.
Research shows that babies who have been fed with their mothers milk are healthier. Those babies are more likely to be protected from a number of infections. Also, children who were fed on breast milk while they were babies are less likely to develop asthma, eczema, diabetes and obesity during their childhood as well as having a higher IQ level and less dental problems.
Sharon Breward, Breastfeeding Coordinator for North West Wales NHS Trust, added:
“It is important that we can encourage mothers to give their children the best possible start. Not only are babies who are fed on their mothers milk healthier, the mothers too are less likely to suffer from breast cancer and ovarian cancer.”
Gwynedd’s Strategic Breastfeeding Group have also been successful in obtaining a grant of almost £4,000 from the Cymorth fund towards buying resources to help midwives prepare mothers for breastfeeding during their pregnancy, as well as equipment to help mothers continue to give milk to their babies in difficult situations, such as when a baby is kept in hospital.
As well as launching a Breastfeeding Friendly pamphlet, a series of events will be held as part of the National Breastfeeding Awareness Week, including a specially arranged walk for mothers at Parc Glynllifon on Friday, 18 May at 12:00. The North West Wales NHS Trust have arranged an awareness raising event for Ysbyty Gwynedd staff, with Sue Sky, the National Assembly’s Breastfeeding Co-ordinator addressing the meeting.
For a copy of the Breastfeeding Friendly pamphlet, contact Sharon Breward, Breastfeeding Coordinator for North West Wales NHS Trust on 01248 600538; or Llinos Owen, Gwynedd’s Health and Wellbeing Coordinator on 01286 679433.
