Initiatives aim to help breastfeeding difficulties

A charity has said it hopes new equipment will help more people access breastfeeding support services.

Family Nursing and Home Care said it had purchased 10 hospital-grade breast pumps and single-use pump kits.

It added that it had also bought a specialist maternity recliner chair for a new breastfeeding and infant feeding clinic at Pathways.

The charity also said it was raising awareness of World Breastfeeding Week, from until 7 August, which Debra Hennessy, of Family Nursing and Home Care, said was “an opportunity to celebrate breastfeeding and recognise the importance of ensuring families have access to the support they need”.

The charity said the initiative an new equipment would “improve access to breastfeeding support, remove financial barriers for families, and help mothers across the island continue breastfeeding for longer if they choose to do so”.

It added it was aiming to to support families with feeding difficulties, premature births, delayed milk supply or other challenges, and would support up to 160 mothers.

The new Pathways clinic is providing an additional location for breastfeeding and infant feeding support in the east of the island, improving accessibility for local families, the charity said.

The hospital-grade pumps and pump kits have been bought from funding provided by the Jersey Community Foundation, bosses said.

The Coop Community Fund had helped fund the purchase of the maternity recliner chair, they added.

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