Brighton & Hove has been named the top place in England for mums breastfeeding their very young babies.
And it’s the second time this year that NHS figures have shown the city to have the top rate of exclusive breastfeeding at 6-8 weeks in the country.
Sussex Community NHS Trust (SCT) works with Brighton & Hove City Council to support new mums and one of SCT’s breastfeeding team has been recognised nationally too.
Zoe Faulkner, SCT Breastfeeding Peer Support Coordinator, has been appointed as coordinator for the Lactation Consultants of Great Britain (LCGB), the professional body for breastfeeding in the UK.
Zoe said, “I am delighted to have been elected to lead the LCGB. I’m very excited to be able to input to breastfeeding strategy at a national level whilst still working with local breastfeeding mums and volunteers.”
Tracy Stapleton, SCT’s children’s centre and breastfeeding team manager, said: “Breastfeeding provides the best form of nutrition for babies – it is natural and free and every extra day brings benefits to mum and baby. We are delighted to see that city rates are so high.
“These statistics are a reflection of the dedication and collaborative working of all involved in supporting mums to breastfeed their babies across the city.
“Our health visitors, children’s centre staff and peer supporters offer a wide range of support to mums who want to start and continue breastfeeding their babies.”
Brighton & Hove City Council public health manager Lydie Lawrence, said: “Our message is quite simple: breastfeeding is the healthiest option for both babies and mothers. We do all we can to offer mothers the support they need to breastfeed their babies wherever possible.
“These figures are a great testament to the hard work of our breastfeeding team and all the midwives, health visitors and children’s centre staff who support breastfeeding in the city.”
The advantages of breastfeeding include:
It is the only natural food designed for your baby
It protects your baby from infections and diseases
It provides health benefits for mum
It’s free
It’s available whenever and wherever your baby needs a feed
It’s the right temperature
It can build a strong physical and emotional bond between mother and baby
It can give mums a great sense of achievement
