Knitters show their support for breastfeeding

Knitters show support for breastfeeding

Breastfeeding supporters in Rochdale have teamed up with a local knitting group to promote the benefits of breastfeeding.

In order to promote good breastfeeding techniques the group needs some resources, including knitted breasts which are used by breastfeeding educators to demonstrate how babies breastfeed. The breastfeeding volunteers sent a plea to the Castleton Library’s knitting group for help and after explaining what was needed and how it would be used, the ladies picked up their needles to support the project.

All of the knitters have been incredibly supportive and have knitted breasts more than 40 breasts in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours. Parents from the breastfeeding group went along with their babies to Castleton Library to meet the knitters and collect the breasts.  It turned into a double celebration as one of the knitters, Jesse Dyson, celebrated her 93rd birthday.    

 Rachel Beckett, Breastfeeding Peer Co-ordinator for Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Community Healthcare, organises the breastfeeding groups and instigated the knitter’s involvement.  “We use the knitted breasts to demonstrate how breastfeeding works but they are also a great talking point.  The ladies have done a fantastic job and we are really grateful for their hard work. 

 “Although on the increase, breastfeeding rates within the Rochdale borough are lower than the national average.  Therefore we are working with local Sure Start Centres to provide peer support training.  This involves training local parents who have experience of breastfeeding so that they can share their knowledge and skills.  It’s been a really successful project and we have now trained 26 breastfeeding parents around the borough.”

 For more information about breastfeeding, visit www.nhs.uk