The Cuidiú Breastfeeding Counsellor (BFC) team has reported a rise in the number of local women reaching out for help during Covid-19.
With all face to face support groups suspended, antenatal classes cancelled, shorter maternity hospital stays, and without family and friends able to visit new parents, more mothers are seeking phone support and counselling services provided by parent support charity Cuidiú in the North West.
And the team is happy to help.
“It is a very challenging time to bring a child into the world at the moment, and most new parents won’t have visiting friends or relatives to help in the early days,” said Mary Lane, Chairperson of Cuidiú North West, and qualified Breastfeeding Counsellor.
“We are so glad to be able to provide a support network to any new parents who find this period difficult and isolating, and it’s such a benefit to have a service that breastfeeding mothers can lift the phone to at any point for reassurance, support or information”.
Since breastmilk has been proven to provide immune support to infants, many new parents are choosing to breastfeed their babies in this Covid 19 outbreak. Good support is needed for a lot of mothers beginning their breastfeeding journey with their newborn.
Cuidiú Breastfeeding Counsellors, all experienced breastfeeding mothers themselves, have completed a specially designed 2 year course which is recognised and funded by the HSE.
The main problems mothers contact Cuidiú about include concerns about milk supply, fatigue, pain and poor latch, infant weight gain, reflux or nappy issues, combination feeding, weaning, or even difficulty in dealing with pressures from partners or other family members.
“We are confident that the team of qualified Breastfeeding Counsellors will help mothers throughout Donegal and beyond, feel more assured in their efforts and choices,” continues Mrs Lane.
“We are even hearing from new mums who are just so upset that their families can’t come to cuddle their new baby. So it’s not just all breastfeeding support that people are looking for.”
Full contact details of the Breastfeeding Counselling team are published on the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/cuidiunorthwest.
Pregnant mothers are also welcome to use this phone service to get best prepared for the journey ahead.
BFCs can also be contacted on messenger on Facebook, or by texting the mobile phone numbers on the current list. For any other queries, or to receive a copy of the counsellor list, please email cuidiunorthwest@gmail.com.
