NHS Leeds Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is supporting World Breastfeeding Week (1 to 7 August) by encouraging Leeds mums to breastfeed their baby if at all possible. The CCG will be running a social media campaign throughout the week, which shows why mums from Leeds breastfeed.
According to the World Health Organisation breastfeeding is the best way to provide infants with the nutrients they need. Emma Ashworth, 44, is backing the CCGs social media campaign as she has breastfeed all her three children.
Emma Ashworth, said: “It’s great to see the local NHS back World Breastfeeding Week through a social media campaign and all the mums who took part in the campaign”.
“Breastfeeding was always going to be something that I was going to do. My mum was a midwife and I’ve always been around birth and breastfeeding. Some mums will have had a positive experience with breastfeeding and unfortunately there will be some whose experience won’t have been so positive”.
“My first child was very easy to breastfeed and I didn’t have any problems. However, with my second child I had a very difficult time breastfeeding and found it very challenging. I received support from a local breastfeeding councillor, who work on a voluntary basis and they were fantastic. My third child was easy to breastfeed and I was definitely prepared in case I had the same issues as my second one”.
“If you’re struggling to breastfeed your baby there is support available, you can attend breastfeeding support groups in Leeds or see a breastfeeding councillor.”
Dr Jane Mischenko, Commissioning Lead for Children & Maternity Services at NHS Leeds CCG, said: “We are keen that mums to be and new mums know the benefits of breastfeeding and know about all the support that is in place in Leeds to help them breastfeed. We recognise that it often takes a couple of weeks to feel confident and that some women are unable, or choose not to breastfeed.
“We want them to hear directly from other Leeds mums and our social media campaign will focus on this. I would also encourage other mums to take part in this campaign and tell us why they breastfeed by posting this on Twitter or Facebook, and using the following hashtags #WorldBreastfeedingWeek and #LeedsMatStrat.
“Breastfeeding benefits your baby as it reduces the risk of infections, diarrohea and vomiting, and there are also benefits for mum as it lowers your risk of certain cancers and heart disease.”
Find out what support is available in Leeds for breastfeeding by visiting this link to the NHS Leeds Teaching Hospitals maternity page. http://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/a-z-of-services/leeds-maternity-care/what-we-do/baby-feeding-and-relationships/
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Notes to editors
Social media campaign run by NHS Leeds CCG
The CCG will be running their social media campaign on Twitter and Facebook:
- Twitter: @nhsleeds
- Facebook: facebook.com/nhsleeds/
If you would like to get involved please use the following hashtags #WorldBreastfeedingWeek and #LeedsMatStrat
Benefits to breastfeeding
Find out the benefits to breastfeeding by visiting NHS Choices https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/benefits-breastfeeding/
For media enquiries please contact:
Issued by the communications team at NHS Leeds CCG. You can contact the team on 0113 84 35528 or 0113 84 35470. Alternatively please email us: leedsccg.comms@nhs.net