Ulverston mothers to launch breastfeed festival
Last updated at 14:40, Wednesday, 02 September 2009
A GROUP of mothers are hoping to launch a breastfeeding festival in Ulverston.
Jo Dawson and Linden Grieve recently set up the Breastfeeding Festival Group with the help of breastfeeding support worker Karen Butterfield.
They hope to hold the first event, involving talks, films, art, books, workshops and stalls, next year. They are hoping the festival will become an annual event.
Ms Dawson said: “Quite a few countries do breastfeeding festivals, but the UK has never had one. We’ve had conferences and campaigns, but they can be quite dull and easy to ignore, so we really wanted to celebrate and get everyone involved.”
New mother Ms Dawson became passionate about breastfeeding while nursing her own daughter, now 15 months.
She attended classes held by Mrs Butterfield, who she later enlisted to help with the group.
Mrs Butterfield said: “The rates of women breastfeeding are still too low so we want to raise that number, as well as how long they do it for.
“It doesn’t suit everyone, but the longer you can go, the more health benefits there are for you and your baby.”
The group is already off to a flying start, running an eco-parenting event at Ford Park’s Eco Fair this Saturday.
The event will include information and demonstrations on nappies, slings, weaning, natural births, co-sleeping, breastfeeding, and common parenting issues.
The group hopes to use the fair to begin raising money and awareness to help launch the festival.
First published at 13:11, Wednesday, 02 September 2009
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk
I think this is a great idea. We should be celebrating the benefits of breastfeeding and raising awareness about the risks of formula feeding. And as for the previous comment about a breastfeeding co-ordinator, I think it is fantastic that money is finally being invested in one of the most important public health challenges of our time.
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Well, very interesting that a man has come up with this comment. The health of children is of importance here and I'm sure that the breastfeeding coordinator doesn't get paid enough. It's an invaluable job. There are also so many people volunteering as breastfeeding peer supporters...who are happy not to be paid because they are so passionate about breastfeeding. You obviously don't know anything about the importance of breastfeeding for the health of your babies and young children or of the work of the organisation 'Baby Milk Action'. You should do some research on how unsafe artificial feeding is before you make comments like this and go upsetting people. Women who are breastfeeding their children are setting them up for life in terms of nutrition, immunity and comfort and saving the NHS a lot of money (breastfed babies are less likely to get ill, less likely to need dental treatment or to become obese in later life) Move with the times... from a very passionate breatsfeeding mother, who is proud to still be feeding her 19 month old boy.
Posted by Vanessa Wood on 3 September 2009 at 19:57