Ashbourne group celebrates breastfeeding week

The Ashbourne breastfeeding support group recently celebrated National Breastfeeding Awareness Week, which took place from 30th September to 7th October. This group of local new mothers has become increasingly popular. Mums find that attending the group provides an opportunity to gain consistent advice and to exchange invaluable tips, especially in the first few postnatal weeks as this period is the most trying. All of the mums agree that once breastfeeding is established, it is more convenient, nutritionally better and has higher immunity value than bottle feeding. Desiree Mofokeng and her son, Nathan, returned to the group to give an inspirational talk on her experience of combining breastfeeding and work. Luckily, Desiree was able to find a crèche close to her workplace so that she could take breastfeeding breaks. According to the Maternity Protection (Protection of Mothers who are breastfeeding) Regulations 2004, a breastfeeding mother is entitled to one hour off from her work each working day as a breastfeeding break without loss of pay. This break can be used either by breastfeeding in an on-site crèche or in childcare close to the mother's workplace, or the mother can express and store breast milk. The group meets Wednesdays at the Ashbourne Health Centre between 11.30am and 12.30pm, and is facilitated by public health nurses Ann Fagan and Iris Mills. Parents interested in finding out more can contact Ashbourne Health Centre on (01) 835 0535; La Leche League Dunboyne/Ratoath on (01) 825 1798 (Mairead) or (01) 825 7167 (Siobhan) or The Cuidiu support group through Veronica on (01) 835 4666.