Celebrate breastfeeding this month

Livesey Children’s and All Age Centre in Blackburn will host a special event on Monday, June 8 as part of East Lancashire’s ‘Celebrating Breastfeeding Month’.

The event, from 1-2.30pm, will form part of the month-long celebration of breastfeeding in East Lancashire.

Visitors to Livesey can meet other mums, chat to staff, enjoy complimentary cake, drinks, music, a raffle with prizes and both indoor and outdoor activities. All are welcome including pregnant mums.

A group of local mums who have been involved in a peer support programme for breastfeeding will also be awarded with certificates.

With events all across East Lancashire, Celebrating Breastfeeding Month is being used to encourage mums-to-be to think about the first feed and to give breastfeeding a go.

Throughout the month children’s centres across Blackburn with Darwen will also be hanging washing lines on which women are encouraged to peg up photos of themselves breastfeeding and messages about people and places that have supported them to breastfeed.

Councillor Mustafa Desai, Executive Member for Health and Adult Social Care, said:

Breastfeeding provides natural  immunity for babies from infections and illnesses, as well as providing certain health  benefits  for mums. It can also build strong emotional and physical bonds between mum and baby.

There’s a lot of support available in Blackburn with Darwen to help mums through the breastfeeding process and the event on the 8th should give those who come down a good flavour of what’s available.

Similar celebration events are planned for later in the year at Wensley Fold Children’s Centre on September 16  – 11-12.30pm and Darwen Children’s Centre on Friday, December 11 – 9.30am-11am.

For more information on Celebrating Breastfeeding Month or for information and support on feeding contact Sue Henry on (01254) 732673.