Eight enthusiastic Plymouth mums celebrated the completion of their breastfeeding peer support training programme this week. The 10 week course is delivered by health professionals from NHS Plymouth and Plymouth Hospitals NHS trust, with additional support from Plymouth Children’s Centres.

Becoming a parent can be full of new and exciting challenges, as a baby gets to know its parents and the parents learn to understand their infant’s needs. Breastfeeding is recognised by all the major health organisations as being the healthiest way to feed a newborn baby and to meet all its nutritional requirements for the first six months of life. The health benefits of breastfeeding are largely attributed to the ‘living’ components within breastmilk which cannot be duplicated or added to formula substitutes. These include infection fighting antibodies, white blood cells, red blood cells and anti-viral factors. Breastmilk also contains living growth factors, hormones and enzymes, which help a baby to easily digest all the goodness from every feed.

Like all new skills, breastfeeding needs to be learnt and practiced before a new mum feels really confident about her body’s ability to produce milk for her baby. Peer supporters are specially trained to offer skilled mother to mother support, guidance, encouragement and accurate information. All peer supporters belong to the Plymouth Latch-on network, which provides new mums with the opportunity to attend a local breastfeeding group. The Latch-on groups offer a breastfeeding friendly environment, positive atmosphere and a warm welcome to all breastfed babies and their parents. There is also an opportunity to talk to a health professional and to find out about the family centred activities being delivered through the local Children’s Centre.

The newly recruited volunteers who have all breastfed their own babies, will continue to receive training updates and networking opportunities organised by Mandy Chapman, NHS Plymouth’s peer support mentor. Mandy, who herself was a volunteer peer supporter for eight years before joining the NHS team said “The eight new peer supporters, who have just completed their training, will be a welcome addition to the Latch-on network. They have shown a great deal of passion, enthusiasm and commitment for their new role and have all completed a 10 week course involving a lot of self directed study. They will be joining our current peer support volunteers who support mothers and breastfeeding families in both Derriford Hospital and Latch-on groups in the community. We look forward to them starting their new roles and we are sure they will be a great asset to the families they will be supporting”.

National statistics show that many mothers will start breastfeeding but may stop in the first few weeks if they experience difficulties and they do not receive timely and skilled support. This can leave new mothers feeling less confident and experiencing feelings of disappointment or regret. Jan Potter, NHS Plymouth Breastfeeding Co-ordinator acknowledges the need for early intervention when it is needed; “Many women and their babies will instinctively know how to breastfeed, whilst others need a bit more support and encouragement. Choosing to breastfeed is an important decision as it provides not only a nutrient rich diet, but also protection against numerous infections such as the ear, chest, urinary tract as well as asthma, eczema, childhood cancers, diabetes and cot death. NHS Plymouth is committed to supporting mothers to breastfeed for as long as they choose to do so. Our peer support volunteers provide a valuable source of mother to mother support, which compliments the service already provided by local health professionals”.

The eight new additions to the peer support network are currently completing the Children centre volunteer process, which includes an enhanced CRB check, before they take up their new role. The next peer support training programme is due to commence in September this year. Details about becoming a peer supporter and what the role entails, can be found on www.plymouth-latchon.org.uk or by telephoning Mandy Chapman on 01752 431637