Feed, change, chat!

I was delighted to receive an invite from the Infant Feeding Team in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda to the launch of specially designed baby feeding and changing benches for Co Louth. I attended the launch at the Louth County Hospital, a second bench can also be found in St Dominics Park in Drogheda. The benches are brightly coloured and comprise good arm rests for comfort when feeding and a changing table. This is such a great initiative. I have spent many hours in parks and playgrounds with babies and young children, feeding on picnic blankets and changing nappies in the boot of a car. A simple change such as this would have been so helpful. 

The project was led by Gráinne Milne the Director of Midwifery at Louth Hospitals who was inspired by seeing similar pieces of street furniture on social media posts from other countries.  The benches were funded by Louth County Council and made by the Mens Shed group in Drogheda. It was fitting that the launch coincided with the 2023 International Day of the Midwife.

What strikes me about this type of project is not only the very practical application for patients but also how it can make a positive contribution to building social connections. I talk a lot with new mothers about making “mom friends” and encourage mums to attend their local breastfeeding support group. However a friendly chat with another parent at a park or playground can also be really positive. I was once told I'd have at least twenty minutes worth of conversation with any stranger if we both had young children. This turned out to be very true! 

A big change for me when working in Private Practice is the lack of daily interaction with coworkers in the office. So it was really lovely for me to get to talk to Brenda, an IBCLC in the Our Lady of Lourdes Parent Craft Team, Sinead a Public Health Nurse and IBCLC in Blackrock and Josefa Breastfeeding Counsellor from the Cuidiu Dundalk Breastfeeding Support Group.

Every “Care Plan” I write for clients includes a section on “Circles of Support” where I highlight potential supporters of a new mum, such as those in her family, friend group and local community. These people can be part of her breastfeeding support team. It was lovely to have the opportunity to catch up with some of these support people. Before the launch I had just come from a Home Visit with a new mom who had delivered in OLOL, had been supported by her PHN and was planning on attending her local support group. We are all working as part of a team; maternity hospitals, public health, voluntary support groups and IBCLCs in private practice. 

For women who haven't seen a lot of breastfeeding growing up the prospect of breastfeeding in public can be daunting. The tide is certainly changing with more and more women initiating breastfeeding and breastfeeding for longer. Attending a local breastfeeding support group a great way for new mothers to get more comfortable with breastfeeding in public. These groups are also a great place to meet other women on maternity leave and plan to meet up for a walk or a coffee during the week. St Dominics Park is now an ideal meeting place to bring a take out coffee and stop for a change, a feed and chat. We should remember that small changes, such as breastfeeding benches, can make a big difference to new mums to feel supported by the wider community to breastfeed in public.