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7Quarterly newsletterIssue 2 • Sept 09

Breastfeeding Bulletin

Welcome to the second breastfeeding bulletin … a guide to what we’re doing locally to encourage mums to breastfeed and to make Kirklees a more baby friendly place to be. NHS Kirklees Baby Friendly Coordinator – Jayne Heley invites you to read the following pages and to contact her directlyifyouhaveanyqueriesorsimply would like to know more about any of the following features.

Four out of the seven baby bistros planned across Kirklees are now up and running to provide support for mums who want advice about feeding their baby naturally.

First to open in the area was at the Golcar, Cowersley and Milnsbridge Children’s Centre followed closely by Gomersal and Littletown Children’s Centre.

Thornhill Children’s Centre opened the third baby bistro at the beginning of the summer and welcomed both Mike Potts and a visitor from the SHA. This month the National Children’s Centre at the Brian Jackson Centre have opened the latest bistro which aims to offer support to mothers in the Huddersfield area.

The opening of baby bistros is just part of a range of activities by NHS Kirklees to overcome the stigma of breastfeeding and encourage more mothers to breastfeed their babies.

Coming soon is the launch and promotion of a Kirklees breastfeeding bistro area on social networking site Facebook which has been primarily developed for breastfeeding mothers, peer supporters and other supporters of breastfeeding across the region. More details to follow.

This autumn will see the launch of the latest sub-brand of the Change4Life campaign.

Start4Life is aimed at pregnant women and families with babies, promoting the importance of a healthy diet during breastfeeding and weaning. More information will follow in the coming weeks.

For more information contact the Change4Life helpline on 0300 123 3434.

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Baby Bistrosup and running

Breastfeeding Bulletin

Passionate about supporting mumsBreastfeeding peer supporters are mums who are enthusiastic about breastfeeding and feel they can give friendly encouragement to others. All breastfeeding peer supporters attend a 10 week training course held locally. This gives mums the knowledge and practical skills needed to support breastfeeding mums. The volunteers then offer support to mums in groups either based in community centres, Children’s Centres or GP surgeries. Supporters mingle with mums and chat to them to share their own experience of breastfeeding, helping them to overcome their worries and pointing them in the right direction for more specialist help if needed.

Donna Ellis, from the Gomersal and Littletown Baby Bistro tells us about her experience as a breastfeeding peer supporter.

The Gomersal and Littletown Baby Bistro opened in May and has proved to be a big success. I am one of the trained volunteer breastfeeding peer supporters who run the group; we are all mums who have breastfed their babies and are passionate about supporting other mums who want to do the same.

We attended the ten week training course to build on our knowledge of breastfeeding. The course was friendly, well-structured and covered topics such as positioning, attachment, common concerns and benefits of breastfeeding for mum and baby. The guest speakers provided very interesting and useful information. Attending the course was also a great opportunity to meet other mums and their children. The key thing I learned was how important it is for breastfeeding mums to have access to information, support and reassurance from mums who are also breastfeeding or have breastfed their babies.

Breastfeeding can be very daunting as a new mum, and even second or third time round it can sometimes be challenging, but we hope with the support we offer, gives mums the confidence and encouragement to carry on breastfeeding.

Our Baby Bistro is free and offers a very relaxed, supportive, friendly environment to feed your baby and meet other mums. We have time to talk through any queriesmumsmighthaveandtrytodraw on our knowledge and skills to help. As a peer supporter we offer confidential support as one mum to another. We hope to help mums overcome their worries and can point them in the right direction if more specialisthelpisrequired.Ourfriendlynetwork of volunteers and mums support and encourage each other. Some mums attend each week; others have found the Baby Bistro useful as a drop in for further information. We have so far been able to share our tips and experiences on areas such as attachment, expressing, storage of milk, continuing feeding when returning to work and discussing which venues welcome breastfeeding.

I became a breast feeding peer supporter after attending other similar groups and found it invaluable to have access to so much information and talking to mums who had experienced similar problems. It’s a fantastic feeling to think that I’m helping others to continue breastfeeding, simply by sharing my knowledge and personal experience. Every day of breastfeeding makes a difference. As peer supporters running Baby Bistros we are committed to providing support and encouraging mums to feed as long as they wish.

Volunteering for NHS KirkleesVolunteers enhance the work we do for local people. Our support staff can help you work out where your expertise could be best used.

If you are interested in becoming a breastfeeding peer supporter or any other type of volunteer contact Christine Stephen, Community and Volunteer Engagement Officer on 07534 260943 or [email protected]

Stephanie Nuttall, mum to Lachlan aged six months has

also recently completed the peer supporters course and said “I was fortunate to receive great support when I had my first child and so have enjoyed breastfeeding both my sons for more than six months. Completing this course means that I can now offer that support to other women and I hope they will be able to take the same pleasure in breastfeeding”.

“Listening to breastfeeding mums share their experiences and helping each other is an inspiration to continue to support mums in one of the most beneficial and rewarding experiences to mother and baby”.Dorothy Clayton, Breastfeeding Peer Support Co-ordinator.

Breastfeeding Bulletin

Peanut allergiesFollowing a major review of the scientific evidence, the Government has revised its advice to consumers about eating peanuts during pregnancy, breastfeeding and the first few years of life. The review has shown that there is no clear evidence that eating or not eating peanuts (or foods containing peanuts) during pregnancy, whilst breastfeeding or during early infant life influences the chances of a child developing a peanut allergy.

Therefore, the Government has revised its position and is now advising that if mothers would like to eat peanuts or foods containing peanuts during pregnancy or breastfeeding, then they can choose to do so as part of a healthy balanced diet.

In relation to the child's diet, revised advice states that if mothers choose to start giving their baby solid foods before six months of age, they should not introduce peanuts or other allergenic foods (such as nuts, seeds, milk, eggs, wheat, fish or shellfish) before this time, and when they do, they should be introduced one at a time so that they can spot any allergic reaction.

For situations where a child has already been diagnosed with another kind of allergy (e.g. eczema or an allergy to foods other than peanut), or if there is a history of allergy in the child's family, the revised advice encourages mothers to talk to their GP, health visitor or medical allergy specialist before giving peanuts to the child for the first time, because they are at higher risk of developing peanut allergy.

The full text of the advice will be published on the Food Standards Agency's website and in the revised DH Pregnancy Book and Birth to Five later in the year.

For more information about food allergy, including peanut allergy, visit www.food.gov.uk

Equality Bill TheEqualityBilloffersmothersstrongerprotection when breastfeeding. People are currently unsure of their rights and their responsibilities in this area. Mothers have to be confident that they can feed their baby in a café, restaurant or shop without the embarrassment of having the owner ask them to stop.

This type of discrimination has been unlawful for women with babies of any age for more than thirty years, and the mother could challenge the owner under the Sex Discrimination Act 1975. In 2008, the Act was strengthened with extra ‘maternity’ protection, which means that if the baby is less than six months old the mother could also challenge the owner on the grounds of her maternity.

TheEqualityBillwillmakeitclearthatitis unlawful to force breastfeeding mothers and their babies out of places like coffee shops, public galleries and restaurants.

This will give women confidence that the law is on their side when they are breastfeeding their babies.

For more information take a look at our guide which lists breastfeeding friendly places in Huddersfield.

Breastfeeding and swine flu Women who are breastfeeding should continue while receiving antiviral treatment or prophylaxis as they are not contraindicated in breastfeeding.In particular mothers should feed on demand. Where possible additional formula should not be used so that the infant receives as much of the maternal antibodies as possible.

If a mother is ill, she should continue breastfeeding and increase feeding frequency.Ifshebecomestooilltofeedthenexpressingmilkmightstillbepossible.

Reducing the risk of transmission from mother to babyAs with general precautions, mothers should take steps to reduce the risk to their infantbywashingtheirhandsfrequentlywithsoapandhotwaterorasanitisergeland by using clean tissues to cover their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Tissues should be binned after use.

Babies hands should be washed if they have been in their mouth. Limit sharing of toys and other items that have been in infants' mouths. Wash thoroughly with soap and water any items that have been in infants' mouths.

General treatment of symptoms Breastfeeding women can help relieve symptoms by drinking plenty of fluids and using paracetamol or ibuprofen to control any fever.

Paracetamol is well tolerated and is licensed for women during pregnancy and for small children. It is also widely used for neonates, particularly in hospital and specialist care, although not specifically licensed for this group.

More information for pregnant and breastfeeding women is available at www.nhs.uk

What can general practices do to help?The first thing to suggest is to point mothers in the right direction for getting help to breastfeed. They might want to consider calling the National Breastfeeding Helpline on 0844 2090920, chatting to their health visitor, or getting friendly advice from one of our many volunteer breastfeeding peer supporters. These are mothers who have breastfed their own children and feel passionate about helping other mums do the same. You might also want to suggest they go along to either the Batley or Huddersfield Baby Café or attend a session at one of our new Baby Bistros.

Your guide to breastfeeding friendly venues in Huddersfield town centre

Breastfeeding Bulletin

What is the Healthy Start scheme?Healthy Start is a Government scheme for pregnant women and their families and provideseveryonewhoqualifieswithvouchersthatcanbeusedtobuymilk,fruit,vegetables and infant formula. The scheme also gives free vitamin supplements to pregnant women and young children. The Healthy Start supplements are branded products and contain the exact amounts of vitamins recommended by the Department of Health.

Who is eligible for the scheme?You are eligible if you are pregnant or have a child under four years old, and:

• Youoryourfamilygetincomesupport,or,

• Youoryourfamilygetincome-basedjobseekersallowance,or

• Youoryourfamilygetchildtaxcredit(butnotworkingtaxcreditunlessyourfamilyis receiving working tax credit run-on only) and have an annual family income of £16,040 or less, or

• Youoryourfamilygetincome-relatedemploymentandsupportallowance

or:

• Youarepregnantandunder18yearsold.

NHS Kirklees is extending the vitamin part of the scheme to those who are not currently eligible under the national scheme.

So anyone who is pregnant or has a child under four years old and lives in one of the following localities can get free supplements:

NHS Kirklees welcomes Baby Friendly Initiative assessors to the region NHS Kirklees are currently working closely with UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative assessors to develop an individualised action plan for the implementation of the UNICEF Baby Friendly (community) Initiative best practice standards in order to assist health care facilities to prepare for accreditation.

An action planning visit has been arranged for 21 October at Cedar Court Hotel.

If you are interested in attending or simply would like to know more please contact Jayne Heley - NHS Kirklees Baby Friendly Initiative Coordinator on 07903 372643.

What is the

scheme?

• Batley,BirstallandBirkenshaw

• Spen

• DewsburyandMirfield

• HuddersfieldNorth

• HuddersfieldSouth

What are the supplements?Women who are pregnant and up until their child’s first birthday are entitled to free maternal supplements (vitamins). These are vitamin C, D and folic acid.

Children aged six months up until their fourth birthday are entitled to free vitamin drops. These are vitamins A, C and D.

The supplements are Healthy Start branded products and are in the amounts recommended by the Department of Health.

Vitamin A: helps with growth, eyesight and healthy skin, and also helps to strengthen the immune system.

Vitamin C: helps the body to absorb iron and helps to maintain a healthy immune system.

Vitamin D: is needed for the absorption of calcium from the diet for strong bones and teethformothersandbabies.AdequatevitaminDinbothmotherandbabywillhelpprevent the development of rickets in children.

Folic acid: can help prevent birth defects, known as neural tube defects, such a spina bifida. Folic acid is also important for cell formation, especially red blood cells.

It is hoped that in the next edition we will be able to give you a list of places in the five localities that will have started to distribute these free supplements. Places will hopefully include Children’s Centres, pharmacists, health centres as well as health visitors and midwives.

For more information about the scheme, please email [email protected] or visit the national website at www.healthystart.nhs.uk

Getting the data right As part of our drive to reduce health inequalitiesandinfantmortality,weneed to establish consistent and more specific breastfeeding data across the Kirklees area. This is necessary so we can determine the prevalence and coverage of exclusive breastfeeding up to six months in line with NICE guidance.

GPs are reminded to ask mothers about their breastfeeding status at the six to eight week child review and circle the appropriate field for breastfeeding on the form in the child health record. It is imperative that GP’s detach the duplicate slip and send copies to child health in a timely way withineachquarterasthisistheonlymechanism in place to make sure that essential child health information, including breastfeeding, is recorded in a central place.

The child health record (red book) has been altered to record breastfeeding – ‘totally’ or ‘partially’ or ‘not at all’ during the six to eight week child check appointment.