Scheme helping new mums to breast feed their babies

Under the scheme, tested in the Edlington area, health visitors contact the new mum just after she gives birth.

They offer telephone support, giving the new mum the necessary contact details should she struggle with breas tfeeding with help at hand straight away.

The scheme is being rolled out by health visitors who work for Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH).

Health visitor Andrea Ibbeson, who worked on the Edlington pilot scheme, said: “We ring the mum when she gets home from hospital to offer support with breastfeeding.

“We can also offer support via our breastfeeding peer supporters, who are mums themselves, who can visit the new mums and offer help.

“We found from the pilot scheme that mums tend to breast feed in hospital but once they head home and before the health visitor sees them they may have stopped breast feeding for one reason or another.  

“Because we ring them straight away, they can access support immediately and it encourages breast feeding to continue.”