Select a region
Islanders are being invited to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week with a series of events designed to connect families with infant health experts.
It has also been announced that several businesses have signed up to the Jersey Breastfeeds initiative, launched last week, which ensures commitment to offering baby changing facilities and comfortable spaces for mothers to breastfeed their children.
Public Health Jersey, Family Nursing and Home Care (FNHC) and Health and Community Service (HCS) are this week putting on events to encourage other businesses to come on board.
Jersey's first infant feeding specialist midwife, Debbie McCoy, who was hired earlier this year, will lead activities at the General Hospital to provide support and information on the benefits of breastfeeding in nurturing the health and wellbeing of infants and mothers.
From 11:00 to 14:00 this Wednesday 2 August, an event in the Royal Square will also provide an opportunity to interact with breastfeeding specialists, dietitians, and paediatricians, as well as other organisations dedicated to promoting the health and happiness of mothers and babies.
A similar, but more relaxed, event will take place from 11:00 to 14:00 this Saturday 5 August at Howard Davis Park, which will be opened by Dr Karen Kyd, wife of the Lieutenant-Governor, Vice-Admiral Jerry Kyd. Islanders are encouraged to bring a picnic and blanket.
Pictured: Deputy Raluca Kovacs is Jersey's 'breastfeeding guardian'.
Deputy Raluca Kovacs, breastfeeding guardian for Jersey and chair of UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative Jersey, said: "Breastfeeding gives great benefits to both babies and mothers. In Jersey much work has been done in recent years to improve the support and information available to new parents to improve breastfeeding rates."
"Part of the activity during this week is a focus on how, as a community we can all support mothers in choosing to breastfeed by being 'Breastfeeding Friendly'.
"I'm delighted that several businesses have signed up to the Jersey Breastfeeds initiative. I hope to see even more coming on-board during World Breastfeeding Awareness Week and beyond."
Businesses urged to become "truly baby-friendly"
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.