A BREASTFEEDING support group is celebrating after receiving a cash boost to secure its future. 

The Nourish Bumps, Babies and Breastfeeding support group, which meets each Monday in Cannington, was set up by volunteers in a bid to help and support mums breastfeeding their children.

Now, the future of the group, led by breastfeeding counsellor Sarah Harcombe, has been secured thanks to a £9,000 grant from the HPC Community Fund.

Sarah said: “The group is not only for those in need of breastfeeding support - we try to provide a warm, welcoming group for mums to be, mums, babies and toddlers to come and socialise, relax and make new friends.

“Becoming a mum can be incredibly isolating, especially if you have moved to the area, as many of our mums have; about a fifth of our regular attendees have moved here with spouses working at Hinkley and we expect this to increase dramatically with the Hinkley Point C development."

The group was previously run through the NCT, supporting hundreds of mothers and babies from across Somerset.

But funding issues meant the group had a more secure future running independently, as a voluntary group, and the successful grant application underpins this, providing financial security for ambitious plans to consolidate and grow the group over the next three years.

Despite the well established health benefits to mother and baby, the UK has some of the lowest rates of breastfeeding in the world, with Bridgwater showing some of the lowest breastfeeding rates in Somerset.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a baby’s life.

Around 85% of mothers begin breastfeeding, but by the end of the first week more than half of those mothers have begun to use formula milk, and by six months only about 1% of babies have been exclusively breastfed. 

The Nourish group provides specialist support for those Mums who may need it in a welcoming, non-clinical environment where hot drinks, cakes and friendly faces are seen as just as important as the one to one help and support they may need from Sarah, or a trained peer supporter. 

Liz Gunn, infant feeding midwife and lactation consultant for Musgrove Park Hospital, said: “It is wonderful to have breastfeeding support groups within a families local community. 

“The evidence shows that many mothers stop breastfeeding before they wanted to, often giving lack of support as a reason. 

“In those early days and weeks mothers need lots of ongoing help and information and having midwifery, health visitor and peer support led groups working together is the best way forward.”

The HPC Community Fund is managed by Somerset Community Foundation to help local communities mitigate the impacts of Hinkley Point C and maximise the opportunities that arise from the development for Somerset communities through schemes, measures and projects which promote the economic, social or environmental well-being of those communities and enhance their quality of life.

Nourish Bumps, Babies & Breastfeeding meets every Monday at the United Reformed Church, Cannington, between 10.30am and 12.30pm, except on Bank Holidays. All are welcome.

The group can also be found on Facebook.