This document discusses the Hillingdon Breastfeeding Volunteer Peer Support Network. It provides the following key details:
- The network consists of mothers who have breastfed and completed UNICEF training to support other mothers breastfeeding. They provide evidence-based information and help with attachment and positioning.
- Peer support is effective in increasing breastfeeding rates and duration. It provides advantages like increased support for mothers and healthcare providers. Inadequate funding can limit its impact.
- The network currently has 9 peer support volunteers working in the hospital and community. They attend antenatal classes and run a specialist breastfeeding clinic.
- Common challenges faced by mothers include issues in the hospital after birth and lack of
2. Who are we?
Peer Support Workers (PSWs)
Mothers who have breastfed their own children
Completion of UNICEF UK BFI level 3 accredited training
Minimum 2 day course for CC staff, HVs or other HCPs, OR
12 week course for non-HCPs
Covers all aspects of breastfeeding – anatomy, BM production, counselling skills, attachment
and positioning, BF issues, roles and responsibilities, when to refer
Receive ongoing training
Volunteers
Objective to increase BF rates and how long mothers BF for
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3. Role and responsibilities of the PSW
Listen, empathise, support and empower mothers
Provide up-to-date, evidence based information on BF from
pregnancy onwards
Help with attachment and positioning
Refer if more complex issues
Work alongside HCPs
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4. Why Peer Support matters
Effective in increasing breastfeeding rates and relatively low cost if properly commissioned and adequately
funded
Advantages
Increased breastfeeding and breastfeeding for longer
Positive experiences for mothers
Gives support to HCPs
Improves access to breastfeeding support for mums in low income groups and those under the age of 25
Increased body of knowledge around breastfeeding
Increased access to children's centres
Increased social cohesion
Few disadvantages, these stem from inadequate funding & resources
Eliminated by robust commissioning, ring fenced funding and formal management with at least a paid PSW coordinator
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5. Current activities
5 PSWs in hospital
4 PSWs in community
Involvement in antenatal Bump and Beyond courses
On-going visibility and activity on social media enabling easy access to support
and NHS/UNICEF approved information
Represented on BFI implementation group
Specialist breastfeeding referral clinic (launched 7th Jan 2016)
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6. Where can you
find us?
• Hillingdon Hospital
• Post natal ward
• Community
• Support groups, drop-
in sessions, post
natal clinics, baby
weigh in clinics, Sling
Meet and Swing Sling
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7. Common observations and problems
Hospital post-natal
Feeling traumatised, overwhelmed and lacking in confidence
Formula “top ups”
Large number of caesarean sections
Large number of mothers formula feeding / no initiation of BF
“Sleepy” baby – ward temperature, baby overdressed, difficulty assessing feeds
Community
Sleep deprivation
Birth complications
Lack of support for BF
Return to work
BF older children and multiples
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8. What next? (1)
Evaluate reasons for common issues/problems
Work with multidisciplinary partners to develop plan to address common issues/problems
Ensure all babies and families have access to service, e.g. presence on NNU
Increase PSW team
Next training planned Spring 2016
Ensure PSWs are integrated into local services
Involved and included in the Bump and Beyond antenatal program
Post natal clinics
Baby clinics in children’s centres
Local mothers groups
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9. What next? (2)
Develop remote / out-of-hours support service
Skype, on-line availability
Develop continuity of care system from hospital to community within PSW team
Build and develop active and supportive relationships with HCPs we work alongside
Paid PSW role
PSW training / co-ordinator role
Successful model used in other boroughs
Key to sustainability
Develop plan for active recruitment, training, support and retention of PSWs
Encourage local business to become more breastfeeding friendly
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10. How you can contact us
Catherine Cooper – Community infant feeding co-ordinator
Tel: 01895 488455, email: ccooper7@nhs.net
Julia Masdin – Hillingdon Hospital infant feeding co-ordinator
Tel: 01895 279723, email: Julia.Masdin@thh.nhs.uk
Social media
Facebook.com/hillingdonbreastfeed
Twitter.com/@hillingdonbfeed
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12. Success stories - 1
I had assumed that when my gorgeous little boy was born that I would pop him on the breast every couple of hours and he would
latch on and I would instinctively know his to facilitate this, easy right? Surely a mother and baby would know how to do the most
natural thing in the world? In reality, however, this was not quite the case. I ended up with mastitis, a poor latch and searing pain
when feeding. It was agony. I spent nights googling, went to some breast feeding meetings. Asked parents, friends, midwives but
nothing quite seemed to get the feeding to be the comfortable, beautiful breast feeding experience I had envisaged.
My baby is now 13 months. I am a proud breast feeding mother and it is an important part of mine and my son's life. What
changed?
After 7 long painful weeks my friend introduced me to a breast feeding coordinator/ fairy godmother.
She came to visit me in my home and immediately encouraged me by telling me that my chunky little boy was thriving. I felt
proud. I knew this was going to be the start of good things. Over the next 3 weeks she helped me to subtly change my position
and my baby's to enable him to perfect his latch. There were times where we even face timed to check I was on the right track.
By week 11 we had cracked it. My little one had his latch optimised and my boobs had repaired. Mine and my little one's
relationships blossomed even further and I looked forward to feeding again.
10 months down the line and I still look forward to feeding. I'm proud to have persevered with breast feeding but I certainly
couldn't have done it without the support, technical advice and ultimately kindness from my breast feeding volunteer. I am even
thinking of training as one myself!
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13. Success stories - 2
My daughter Evelyn was born in September. Two days into our first week and I was suffering from sore
nipples and feeling worried about whether she was latching and feeding correctly. Feeing overtired and
overwhelmed I called a PSW that evening and she was just wonderful. She listened to what I was
saying and was immediately reassuring on the phone, and said she would come and see me the next
morning. She followed the call by sending me a step by step guide to what I should be doing and some
useful links, to help me through the night. Her visit the next day and demonstration of expressing was
just what I needed to set me and Evelyn on the right path and to help build my confidence. She also
went above and beyond and checked in with me during the following days. All this when she was about
to give birth to her third baby any day!!
More recently she was on hand again as I had new concerns about how much milk Evelyn was taking.
Thank you for being so supportive and reassuring, I really don't think I would have succeeded at breast
feeding without you.
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14. Hillingdon Sling Meet
A voluntary organisation dedicated to helping local parents and caregivers
wear their babies and toddlers safely and ergonomically
Run by 4 (self funded) fully qualified babywearing peer supporters
Studies have shown babywearing has numerous benefits for both baby and
caregiver, amongst others
Encourages breastfeeding
Reduces crying
Helps with bonding and attachment
Helps reflux
Reduces PND
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16. Swing Sling
For Mum/Dad:
Spend quality time bonding with your baby
Build intimacy and trust with your baby
Have fun
Improves your mood and increases energy
levels
Improves your posture and self-awareness
Helps you feel confident
For Baby/Infant:
Builds intimacy and trust with parent
Introduces music, movement and dance
Develops musical appreciation and a good sense
of rhythm
Stimulates your baby’s mind
Your baby will love watching the others around
them
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Sling Swing is an exciting gentle movement and dance class for mums and dads or carers with their babies and
toddlers in soft structured slings and baby carriers or wraps.
Why Sling Swing?