Improving Maternal and Infant Nutrition: A Framework for Action

Community Mothers Breastfeeding Support Programme – NHS LanarkshireThe programme aims to contribute to improving initiation and continuation rates ofbreastfeeding in targeted areas of Lanarkshire and to maximise the potential ofvolunteers in terms of their life-long learning. Community Mothers recruit and trainlocal women as volunteers to provide peer support to breastfeeding mothers in thelocal maternity unit, in their home and by telephone. Volunteers attendbreastfeeding workshops, teenage pregnancy groups and health events in their owncommunities. Volunteers’ skills increase as a result of the training and experiencegained with improvement in confidence, communication and customer-facing skillsreported. A number of volunteers have gone on to pursue careers in midwifery,nursing and teaching. Between April 2008 and March 2009 824 women weresupported by Community Mothers and of those 57.3% (472) were exclusivelybreastfeeding at six weeks compared to a rate of 18.7% for NHS Lanarkshire as awhole. For further information contact: Shona Brownlie, Community MothersProgramme Manager, NHS Lanarkshire, shona.brownlie@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk4.12 Around half of the Boards had breastfeeding friendly/welcome schemes intheir area which were launched between 2000 and 2007. All but one Board eitherhad regular forum meetings with infant formula company representatives, orintended to set one up. The membership of these forums consisted of a variety ofstaff and included tasks such as information dissemination to the wider workforceincluding reviewing research papers, meeting with formula representatives, andmonitoring the WHO International Code on marketing of breast milk substitutes.4.13 Around half of the Boards had work in progress on breastfeeding involvingnurseries and most were involved in promoting breastfeeding in schools.Breastfeeding Friendly Nursery Programme – NHS Glasgow & ClydeThe programme aims to promote breastfeeding as the cultural norm by staffincreasing knowledge and awareness , reviewing the resources used withinnurseries and providing a welcoming atmosphere to breastfeeding mothers. A twohour training session is delivered to a minimum of 80% of staff in pre-schoolestablishments. During the session staff discuss how culture impacts onbreastfeeding, how children are influenced by their surroundings and the resourcesthey use, and why breastfeeding is important. The session explores attitudestowards breastfeeding and informs staff on the Breastfeeding etc (Scotland) Act2005. There is an opportunity for practising scenarios which arise becoming aBreastfeeding Friendly facility. On completion of the training and review ofresources, the facility will become Breastfeeding Friendly and promote anenvironment where breastfeeding is seen as the natural way to feed infants andyoung children. To date, 62 establishments within the five Glasgow City CHCP’shave participated in the programme with a total of 440 staff having attended asession and 38 have been awarded Breastfeeding Friendly Nursery status. Forfurther information contact: Lesley Davidson, Breastfeeding Public AcceptabilityDevelopment Officer, NHS Glasgow & Clyde lesley.davidson@ggc.scot.nhs.uk