Breastfeeding Awareness Week is approaching and North East Lincolnshire Council’s Infant Feeding team and breastfeeding peer supporters will be present at events across the borough.

Mums are invited to drop by at information stands and events on the following days:

• Monday, 22 June, 9:30-11:30am at Family Services (Maternity), Grimsby Hospital
• Monday, 22 June, 1-3pm at Grimsby Library
• Tuesday, 23 June, 9:30-12pm at Boots, Freshney Place, Grimsby
• Tuesday, 23 June, 12:30-2:30pm at Muffin Break, Freshney Place, Grimsby
• Wednesday, 24 June, 9:30am start at Cleethorpes Discovery Centre – pram push walks
• Wednesday, 24 June, 9:30-11:30am at Cleethorpes Library, little readers group
• Wednesday, 24 June, 11:30-1:30pm at Cleethorpes sandpit for a picnic
• Thursday, 25 June, 9:30-11:30am at Beacon Medical group
• Friday, 26 June, 11:00-1pm at Freshney Green Primary Care Centre
• Friday, 26 June, 1-2:30pm at Immingham breastfeeding group at Immingham Children Centre – healthy snacks group

There will be an opportunity to speak to members of the team, and an infant feeding representative from maternity services. You can ask questions, get information from the team and find out what is on offer for breastfeeding mums in North East Lincolnshire. The team will be on hand to offer information about breastfeeding, the Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme and feeding when out and about in the area. There will also be information about breastfeeding peer support, what they do and how to become a breastfeeding peer support volunteer.

North East Lincolnshire Council recognises that it is important for parents to make an informed choice about how they feed their babies.

Kathy Holmes, infant feeding lead at North East Lincolnshire Council said:

“We want to help raise awareness so that parents and parents-to-be have the information that they need to help make important decisions around breastfeeding.

“There is a lot of evidence to show that breastfeeding has short and longer term benefits to both mother and child. The health benefits of breastfeeding have been proven to promote long lasting effects on a child’s development and growth. The milk that a baby receives from breastfeeding is more than just a food. It contains antibodies and all the nutrients needed to help protect a baby against the risk of infection and disease. It is easily absorbed and adapts to promote babies growth and development. That is why the Department of Health recommends breast milk as the best source of nutrition for at least the first six months.”