The Southern Health and Social Care Trust recently held its annual networking and training event for breastfeeding peer support volunteers. The event took place at the South Lake Leisure Centre in Craigavon and brought together volunteers who have been supporting breastfeeding mothers over the past year.
Breastfeeding peer support volunteers are local mothers who, after breastfeeding their own children, undergo specialized training to offer support to other new mothers. These peer volunteers provide guidance through direct phone calls or in-person meetings at local breastfeeding support groups.
With the consent of new mothers, the Trust connects them with a peer support volunteer immediately after leaving the hospital. Peer support volunteers use their personal experiences and skills to help breastfeeding mothers navigate common challenges and address any concerns they may have. Studies have shown that peer support, alongside professional health services and support groups, significantly improves breastfeeding success.
Ruth McGowan and Michelle O’Hagan, the Trust’s Community and Maternity Infant Feeding Leads, shared their thoughts on the event: “This is the third time since the pandemic that we’ve been able to come together and celebrate the amazing work our peer support volunteers do. We are thrilled to host this event, which promotes breastfeeding and helps ensure babies get the best start in life. We currently have 31 breastfeeding volunteers and are looking forward to expanding this number with a volunteer recruitment drive later this year.”
The event was attended by both experienced and newly trained volunteers, peer mentors, health visitors, midwifery mentors, hospital link workers Alicia Lappin and Rebecca McKibbin, and volunteer coordinators Karen McCabe and Aine Mulholland.
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