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Mum2Mum What We Do

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Stoke on Trent Community Health Services supports breastfeeding as the healthiest way for babies to be fed and we recognise the important health benefits now known to exist for both the mother and her child.  Compared to children who are fed on infant formula, breastfed babies are less likely to suffer from:

  • Ear infections
  • Stomach upsets
  • Chest infections
  • Urine infections
  • Diabetes
  • Cot death

Mothers who breastfeed are less likely to develop

  • Cancer of the breast, uterus and ovaries
  • Brittle bone disease
  • And will find it easier to return to their pre-pregnancy weight

As well as protecting against disease, breastmilk contains all the nutrients your baby needs until he is around 6 months old. It can be convenient, is free and many mother’s find breastfeeding to be a very rewarding experience.

Because breastfeeding impacts on the health and wellbeing of mothers and babies, the NHS encourages all mothers to breastfeed. Nationally, nearly 80% of mums breastfeed their babies. In Stoke on Trent just over half of babies get any breast milk, and many mums who start breastfeeding switch to bottle feeding before they want to.

Mum2Mum aims to support parents to breastfeeding for as long as they want to by providing support and information before and after their baby is born.

  • Breastfeeding facilitators contact all mums who go home breastfeeding, and offer a home visit. Facilitators can provide information and support with attachment and positioning, feeding patterns and ensure the baby is receiving sufficient milk.
  • We operate a 24 hour breastfeeding helpline staffed by health professionals. We get around 150 calls a month from families for support with breastfeeding, often issues around milk supply and night time parenting.
  • We help run 11 Breastfeeding Café support groups across the city. Social support is important for mothers who may not know anyone else who has successfully breastfed.
  • We provide training courses for NHS and children’s centre staff and volunteers so we offer consistent information to parents.
  • Breastfeeding coordinators support families where breastfeeding is challenging and provide advice for health professionals, for example around medications, infections and baby’s growth. They also audit the services provided to parents around infant feeding to ensure we are all giving the best information to parents.

Mum2Mum sell/hire equipment such as breast pumps and baby slings to families who would find these items helpful. For example, many families find wearing their baby in a sling means they can meet the baby’s need to be help whilst being able to get out and about.

A booklet named Off to a Good Start is available for download by clicking the title name.