ISLANDERS are being invited to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week with a series of events designed to connect families with infant health experts and each other.
It has also been announced that several businesses have signed up to the Jersey Breastfeeds initiative, launched last week, which ensures commitment to offering baby changing facilities and comfortable spaces for mothers to breastfeed their children.
Public Health Jersey, Family Nursing and Home Care and Health and Community Service are this week putting on events to encourage other businesses to come on board with the initiative.
Jersey’s first infant feeding specialist midwife, Debbie McCoy, who was hired earlier this year, will lead activities at the General Hospital to provide support and information on the benefits of breastfeeding in nurturing the health and wellbeing of infants and mothers.
From 11am to 2pm today, an event in the Town Hall will also provide an opportunity to interact with breastfeeding specialists, dietitians, and paediatricians, as well as other organisations dedicated to promoting the health and happiness of mothers and babies.
A similar, but more relaxed, event will take place this Saturday from 11am to 2pm at Howard Davis Park, which will be opened by Dr Karen Kyd, wife of the Lieutenant-Governor, Vice-Admiral Jerry Kyd. Islanders are encouraged to bring a picnic and blanket.
Deputy Raluca Kovacs, breastfeeding guardian for Jersey and chair of Unicef Baby Friendly Initiative Jersey, said: ‘Breastfeeding gives great benefits to both babies and mothers.
‘In Jersey, much work has been done in recent years to improve the support and information available to new parents to improve breastfeeding rates.
‘Part of the activity during this week is a focus on how, as a community, we can all support mothers in choosing to breastfeed by being “Breastfeeding-Friendly”.’
‘I’m delighted that several businesses have signed up to the Jersey Breastfeeds initiative. I hope to see even more coming on board during World Breastfeeding Awareness Week and beyond.’
