Homerton maternity services gain baby friendly award
Maternity services at Homerton University Hospital have been awarded the prestigious Baby Friendly Award from the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) Baby Friendly Initiative.
The award means that Homerton Healthcare is fully accredited as a baby friendly provider and a leading facility for promoting breastfeeding with mothers and mothers to be. The Trust will now be working over the next couple of years to achieve Gold Award status from UNICEF.
Boo Charkin, Homerton’s Infant Feeding Lead said: "This recognition from UNICEF is a reflection of our ongoing commitment to increase breastfeeding rates and improve care for all mothers using Homerton maternity services.
“Homerton’s maternity services work with a diverse population and Hackney has one of the highest rates of breastfeeding initiation in the country. We strive to support families to achieve their infant feeding goals and help them to give their babies the best start in life.
“Over the last few years we have developed our infant feeding service so that all of our midwives and maternity support workers are trained to provide feeding support in the antenatal and early postnatal period. Families also have access to specialist feeding support when needed, both in the hospital and the community. We work closely with colleagues across the Trust and also Hackney Council and local Family Hubs to ensure that support is consistent and readily accessible.”
One mother Palmyre Manivet said: “It was always a huge relief knowing that there was someone to listen to my troubles and offer help. It was also comforting to have a space where other mums who were struggling with feeding could sit together. Breastfeeding has been a source of joy and connection for us both as well as of course a great source of food for my baby.”
Added Boo: "Breastfeeding protects babies against a wide range of serious illnesses, including gastroenteritis and respiratory infections in infancy, as well as cardiovascular disease, asthma, diabetes and obesity later in life. We also know that breastfeeding reduces the mother’s risk of some cancers, and that it supports the mental health of both mother and baby.”
Homerton Hospital also recently created a relaxing space in the hospital where staff who are breastfeeding can go to express and store their breastmilk while they are at work which demonstrates its commitment to breastfeeding and to staff wellbeing. One member of staff described it as a ‘wonderful little space for breastfeeding staff’.
"We are delighted that Homerton Healthcare Maternity Services has achieved full Baby Friendly status," said UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative Deputy Programme Director, Anne Woods. “Our work to support breastfeeding is based on extensive and resounding evidence that breastfeeding saves lives, improves health and cuts costs in every country worldwide, rich and poor alike. Mothers at Homerton can be confident that their midwives will provide high standards of care.”