Charity funding helps make breastfeeding in hospital easier

The hospital experience of breastfeeding mothers has been improved thanks to UHNM Charity funding.

Staffordshire Children’s Hospital at Royal Stoke, which is part of University Hospitals of North Midlands has been able to purchase new equipment aimed at making breastfeeding a more relaxed and comfortable experience.

Equipment including breast pumps, sterilisers and recliner chairs is now being utilised in areas across the Children’s Hospital including Children’s A&E, medical wards and day cases.

Babies suffering from jaundice, bronchiolitis, weight loss, as well as mothers who are admitted onto adult wards are set to benefit.

Eve Petrozzi-Smith, Play Specialist and Infant Feeding Instructor at University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust said: “Caring for mother and baby in the postnatal period involves supporting their feeding journey whichever method they choose.

“This new equipment allows staff at Staffordshire Children’s Hospital at Royal Stoke to offer the best possible support to mother and babies. We want to provide high quality care within a comfortable stress free and relaxing environment which is safe and effective.”

Last year Staffordshire Children’s Hospital at Royal Stoke saw 700 jaundice and weight loss babies, half of which required hospital admission.

The new equipment also includes specialist dolls to teach newly-qualified nurses about feeding positioning and attachment.

Steve Rushton, Head of UHNM Charity said: “The benefits of breastfeeding are well known and UHNM Charity was delighted to support our colleagues at Staffordshire Children’s Hospital at Royal Stoke in helping to make new mother’s journey’s as comfortable and stress-free as possible.”

Staffordshire Children’s Hospital at Royal Stoke has also recently signed up to the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative, enabling public services to better support families with feeding and developing close relationships.