1 April 2011
Midwifery, obstetric, paediatric and neonatal staff at Epsom and St Helier hospitals are celebrating after the Trust successfully passed the second stage of an international scheme set up to support women breastfeed.
The Baby Friendly Initiative, which is run by the children's charity UNICEF with the backing of the World Health Organisation, aims to increase the number of women who breastfeed with hospitals being taken through a gruelling three stage process prior to receiving full accreditation.
The award was given following an intensive assessment by UNICEF. Over the course of two days, expert assessors not only interviewed staff about their knowledge of breastfeeding but also observed practical demonstrations on how they helped mums position their babies when feeding and techniques for expressing milk manually. In addition, the training records of staff were scrutinised, as well as the materials used to teach them.
Sue Taylor is the Trust’s infant feeding advisor: "We are committed to making sure mums-to-be and new mums get all the support they need to breastfeed successfully and that’s why we signed up to UNICEF's Baby Friendly Initiative.
"Breastfeeding is really important as it reduces the risk of babies developing many illnesses and helps mums to bond with their child.
"I'd be lying if I didn’t say it was hard work, but the way our staff have worked together has been fantastic. UNICEF's assessors were really impressed with the way staff had taken what they'd learned during their training onto the wards and into their everyday practice."
Sally Sivas, Head of Midwifery commented: "Achieving stage two of UNICEF's Baby Friendly Initiative is no easy undertaking and it reflects the culmination of three years' worth of hard work. I’d like to say a big thank you to all the staff who have been involved, from midwives, neonatal and paediatric staff, obstetricians, healthcare assistants and support staff."
While UK breastfeeding rates are increasing they are still among the lowest in Europe. At birth, only 76 per cent of British babies are breastfed. This figure falls to 63 per cent at one week. Just one in four babies are still receiving breast milk at six months, despite recommendations that babies need nothing other than breast milk for the first six months of life.
Sally added: "Getting this far is an enormous achievement. However, our challenge is to move to stage three and to receive full accreditation. This success will act as a huge incentive to all involved and we hope to make stage three next year."
Acknowledging that breastfeeding is a choice, Sally added: "Promotion of breastfeeding is about the long-term health of children, so it can often take years to see the impact of initiatives that improve breastfeeding rates. However, we recognise that not all women want to breastfeed and we make sure they receive all the support and advice they need."
For all the latest information about the work of the Trust, visit www.epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk.
To find out more about UNICEF and the Baby Friendly Initiative, visit www.babyfriendly.org.uk.
