SOUTH SOMERSET NEWS: Breastfeeding café to open

A BABY friendly café is launching in Yeovil that will offer parents support with breastfeeding, the opportunity to relax, make new friends and share positive experiences.

The cafe will promote and support parents with breastfeeding, which has many proven positive health benefits for infants and their mothers. It has been set up by Somerset County Council’s getset service in partnership with Health Visitors from Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.  The café is within easy walking distance of the town centre and bus station.

Expectant and new mums and dads are welcome to come along to the café with their babies aged from nought to 12 months.

Support will be offered by health visitors who have specialist training to assist parents to feel more confident with breastfeeding.  Appointments are from 2pm to 4pm and it is recommended parents book a one to one session by calling 01935-475938 - extension 2.

The official launch of the café is on Monday, September 12, 2016, at getset’s Reckleford Children’s Centre, Eastland Road, Yeovil, from 2pm until 3.30pm.

Members of the public are invited to come round for a free luxurious barista-style cup of coffee or cup of tea, and slice of delicious cake and on launch day refreshments will be free. Thereafter there will be a weekly charge of £1 for refreshments.

Somerset County Council’s health and wellbeing spokesman, Cllr Anna Groskop, said: “Congratulations to the new breastfeeding café in Yeovil I wish the launch and this new venture every success.”

If you are a mum-to-be or breastfeeding and would like some encouragement to breastfeed when your baby is born why not drop in on launch day or later for a rest, refreshments, support and a chat in a breastfeeding and baby friendly environment.

“There are so many health benefits associated with breastfeeding. Research shows that it reduces hospital admissions, infections and reduces the risk of childhood obesity,” added Cllr Groskop.

Suki Norris, Somerset Partnership’s professional lead for children and young people’s nursing, welcomed the news and said: “Health visitors are pleased to be involved in this exciting new initiative.”

“This group will enable parents to share their breastfeeding experiences and receive professional encouragement and help as required.

“Research demonstrates that the support that is offered within a group setting increases the self-esteem and confidence of breastfeeding parents and improves breastfeeding sustainability, which subsequently plays an important role in helping to reduce obesity and post-natal depression.

“We are looking forward to working in partnership with the getset service and will not only promote this resource but will offer advice and support to all those who choose to attend.”

Somerset County Council runs the ‘Positive About Breastfeeding’ scheme which encourages businesses and public places to offer their own warm welcome to mothers who wish to breastfeed. 

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