New parents in Hull and the East Riding are now receiving visits from specialist midwifery teams soon after the birth of their babies to help with breastfeeding.
Community Midwifery Support Workers will come to your home on the third day following the birth if you choose to breastfeed your newborn baby.
Members of the team will offer tips and support and answer any questions you might have about feeding your child in those vital first few days.
Anna Harrison, Community and Midwifery-Led Unit Matron at Hull Women and Children’s Hospital, said: “This is an extension to the role of our Community Midwifery Support Workers and they’ve undergone extra training to improve our breastfeeding service.
“We know those first few days are so important once you begin breast feeding so our teams will come to you to assist with positioning your baby, suggest different techniques, help you overcome any issues you’re having and answer any questions or concerns you might have.
“We’re so proud of our team who have embraced this new challenge and are showing great professionalism and compassion towards those who need our support in the early stages of parenthood.”
Previously, national staffing issues affecting midwifery services throughout the country meant it was difficult for midwives to visit anyone wishing to breastfeed their babies, meaning some gave up without the support and advice to continue. To tackle that need, a national initiative was launched to “upskill” other maternity staff to take on roles traditionally performed by midwives.
The Community Midwifery Support Workers have been promoted to Band 3 roles and have undergone an additional 12-week intensive training course at the University of Hull to enhance their skills to offer the new service.
Working with community midwives, the Infant Feeding Lead Midwife and Hull charity Goodwin Development Trust, members of the team offer a seven-day service, every day of the year, to visit homes throughout Hull and the East Riding on Day Three of the baby’s life.
During the extended visit, the CMSWs will weigh the baby and assist breastfeeding to offer practical advice and support. They can also report any concerns such as unexpected weight loss back to midwives so parents and their babies continue to receive the best care even after the baby’s arrival.
Anna said: “It’s an unrushed and very supportive visit and we’ve had amazing feedback. Breastfeeding mums have told us how much they look forward to the visit and how much it’s helping them.
“This is a huge responsibility and a really big change for our team but they’ve really embraced the challenge and we are just so proud of them.”
