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North Somerset Healthy Early Years is looking to recruit more mums to become Breastfeeding Peer Supporters.
A Peer Supporter is someone who has breastfed and/or provided breastmilk for their child and has done a Peer Supporters training course. They then go on to support other mums at regular support groups held in locations across North Somerset and in private, closed Facebook groups.
The next training course to become a Peer Supporter starts soon, on Wednesday 21 February at Ashcombe Children’s Centre in Weston-super-Mare.
The free course will run for nine weeks (no sessions on Wednesdays 3 and 10 April), from 10am to 12.30pm each week. If you would like to find out more about course and becoming a volunteer, email the team at breastfeeding.welcome@n-somerset.gov.uk and they will send you an information pack.
Cllr Jenna Ho Marris, North Somerset Council’s executive member for public health, said: “We’re a council which empowers and cares about people. We want every child to have the best possible start in life and our Peer Supporters plays a vital role in doing that.
“Breastfeeding has many benefits for both mum and baby. By offering reassurance and advice, our Peer Supporters help mums across North Somerset start and breastfeed for longer.
"I also breastfed both my kids, it was some years ago now, but I still remember what a difference it made to get help early on, and whenever I came across something that made me unsure.
“North Somerset is lucky to have so many dedicated volunteers but we always need more! If you’d like to help other mums please get in touch with us. Whether you had difficulties, or it was all plain sailing, your experiences will be valuable in supporting others. No previous knowledge is necessary before the training, we just ask that you have the experience of having breastfed your own baby. And babies are absolutely welcome to join you at the training!”
Gemma Brown became a Peer Supporter after going to one of the support groups with her daughter Dotty.
“It was at group one day I started chatting to the ladies about why they became Peer Supporters and they all said they wished they’d done it sooner as it really helped them on their own journeys, as well as being able to help others.
“This got me thinking and a few weeks later I found myself sat in a room full of women, all as keen as I was, ready to start our training… with Dotty in tow at just 12 weeks old! I found it all extremely fascinating. It really fuelled my passion for breastfeeding.
“It really does take a village to raise a child. Here in North Somerset we are so incredibly lucky to have such amazing support available. Some regions don’t even have one support group… whereas we have one every day of the working week here. It’s amazing!”
For more information about the help and support available with infant and breastfeeding in North Somerset, including the times and venues for breastfeeding support groups, visit the Better Health North Somerset website at www.betterhealthns.co.uk/healthy-families.
The photograph shows Gemma with her daughter Dotty.
