The Infant Feeding Team have received a Big Shout Out for the support that they provide breastfeeding mums across Lanarkshire.
The small team, who offer an opt out support service to all new mums, were nominated by a new mum to thank them for the support they provided to her.
Anne Marie Bruce, infant feeding development midwife, said: “We offer the service to every woman in Lanarkshire who has had a baby and left hospital breastfeeding. We are an addition to the care provided by their midwife and health visitor.
“We come out to their home and provide general support such as attachment and try to support them in their breastfeeding journey, as much as we possibly can.
“Although breastfeeding is natural, it is something that you have to learn, so it takes a bit of time. This can be difficult, especially when mums are tired and sore after the birth. so we support them to find a comfortable position. “
Position and attachment is really important for breastfeeding. If a mum can get a comfortable position, that enables the baby to get in the right place to eat and that can make her journey so much easier.
Anne Marie added: “The most common thing we find is that people don’t understand how breastfeeding works, how often babies feed and what normal newborn behaviour looks like.
“Mums can think they are getting it wrong, but in actual fact that the baby is behaving like a baby.
“Since COVID we become much, much busier. We are delighted to busy, and we love that we’re contactable, but it takes a lot of planning and a lot of coordination to make sure that we get everybody the help that we need when they need it.
“The team during COVID adapted really quickly and were absolutely amazing. We were one of the first teams that used attend anywhere and within the first few days we fully transferred over and were offering mums video calls before anybody else was.
“We started our social media pages and we ran online breastfeeding support and that continues. So anyone having a baby in Lanarkshire can be reassured that help is available.”
Maureen Tuddenham, infant feeding team nurse, said: “The whole unit is a baby friendly unit. Every health visitor and midwife and member of staff that starts in maternity, gets baby friendly training within six months.
“This means that when a mum is seen by a health visitor or a midwife or member of the infant feeding team, we are all telling the mum the same thing. This ensures that all staff are consistent, we are all giving the same care that is evidence based.
Cheryl Clark, chief midwife for NHS Lanarkshire, said: “Congratulations to Anne Marie and everyone in the infant feeding team for their nomination in ‘The Big Shout Out’.
“They are an incredible bunch of ladies who work tirelessly every day to support every mum in Lanarkshire through their infant feeding journey.
“We’re all proud of the team and for a mum to nominate you because of the support she received during her breastfeeding journey just validates how incredible they are.”
Kathryn Reid, Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist for Chronic Pain, who nominated the team, said: “I had Lucas in Sept 2021, a somewhat challenging and isolating time due to COVID. I met Lesley, from the team, in the ward the day after Lucas was born and I remember her being so caring, knowledgeable and reassuring, especially as I was feeling particularly overwhelmed at the time.
“Little did I realise at that time how much I would rely on the team over the next few days and weeks. My initial telephone calls to the team were extremely helpful and the home visits I received from Lesley increased my understanding of breast feeding and normal baby behaviour and made me feel very reassured, less uncomfortable and confident to continue.
“I’m aware that other health boards don’t have this service available and feel very privileged to have been able to receive this help, without them my breastfeeding journey would definitely have stopped prematurely.
“Thank you from Lucas and me for being such a wonderful team. I hope you all know how brilliant and appreciated you are.”
The Big Shout Out praises NHS Lanarkshire teams for taking an innovative, creative and patient-centred approach to working, and recognises the unique contribution staff make to overcoming the challenges faced across the entire healthcare system.
