July 2018
Mother Knows Breast
Welcome to the July edition of Public Health Network Cymru’s e-bulletin. The spotlight this month is ‘Breastfeeding‘. World Breastfeeding Week will take place between the 1 - 7 August 2018. Breastfeeding is a universal solution that levels the playing field, giving everyone a fair start in life. It improves the health, wellbeing and survival of women and children around the world. The objectives of #WBW2018 are: • Inform people of the links between good nutrition, food security, poverty reduction and breastfeeding • Anchor breastfeeding as the foundation of life • Engage with individuals and organisations for greater impact • Galvanise action to advance breastfeeding as a part of good nutrition, food security and poverty reduction
@PHNetworkCymru
Due to technical reasons the planned edition focusing on National Parks Week has been postponed until September. Please get in touch with any information you would like to include on the website or e-bulletin by contacting us at publichealth.network@wales. nhs.uk
Spotlight on Breastfeeding Breastfeeding Whether you are pregnant or you have just had a baby and are thinking of breastfeeding getting off to the best possible start is so important. The decision about how long to breastfeed is very personal and can depend on a number of factors. Both the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF recommend that a baby is exclusively breastfed for the first six months (around 26 weeks), and for breastfeeding to continue beyond that time along with solid food for two years or more. The reality is that although most babies are breastfed at the beginning, very few babies in the UK continue to be breastfed beyond the first few months as we have one of the lowest breastfeeding rates for any developed country. This means that our society is not used to seeing breastfeeding and so schools, colleges, employers, families and communities lack awareness of breastfeeding. This can make the decision to breastfeed a more difficult one for a mother, particularly during times of change like returning to study or going back to work. Support and understanding of breastfeeding is growing. We know that every drop of breast milk that a baby receives is valuable and the longer breastfeeding continues the greater the benefits to both your baby and you. Each month of breastfeeding lowers the risk of illnesses that can put babies into hospital. It also helps protect babies against becoming overweight or obese, which means they are less likely to develop diseases like diabetes in the future. (The Breastfeeding Network, 2014)
All About Breastfeeding
The Betsi Cadwaladr Public Health team in collaboration with Conwy Connect and Easy Read on breastfeeding.
The booklet, available to view or download from the Health Board’s website provides easy an baby and the support available if they decide to breastfeed. Inside, readers will find general the use of Photosymbols.
Teresa Owen, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s Executive Director of Public Health across north Wales access Easy Read information about breastfeeding. This brand new resou and Easy Read Wales is and the benefits it will bring breastfeeding mothers.”
Liz Fletcher, Assistant Area Director West - Children’s Services and Chair of the Strategic In valuable gifts a mother can give her baby but also know that some mothers do find it challen
“We are very pleased to have seen the launch of this excellent new booklet, packed with Eas how to feed their baby, who can support them and where to find other mums in their area wh For more information please contact Siwan.Owens@wales.nhs.uk The booklet can be found via the link below: http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/861/page/85316
d Wales have developed a resource to support mothers in north Wales to access information
nd accessible information to help mothers make an informed decision about how to feed their breastfeeding tips and links to local support, written using the Easy Read standard including
h said: “I’m extremely proud of the collaborative work that’s been completed to help mothers urce showcases just how valuable working closely with stakeholders such as Conwy Connect
nfant Feeding Group, added: ”We recognise that choosing to breastfeed is one of the most nging at first and that having information and advice at their fingertips is really important.”
sy Read advice and Photosymbol information that mothers may need when they are deciding ho are also breastfeeding.”
Breastfeeding outside of the home – A moral challen Trust ISSF Fellow at the Centre for Trials Research, Ca
Alongside this research, I’ve also looked at how breastfeeding in public spaces is conside misunderstandings about breastfeeding, and the legal right to breastfeed in England and Wa
So, why does this matter? Much of what the NHS does in relation to breastfeeding is aimed a confirmed by lots of other research in the UK and abroad) shows how difficult our society ma mum can’t breastfeed outside of the home, this is going to make life as a breastfeeding moth to feed from a bottle outside of the home, and an upset baby who isn’t being fed when they’
I’m continuing to do research in this area, and I have almost completed a review of all qualit projects, programmes and interventions which are aiming to make it easier for women to bre the academic literature, I’d really appreciate it if you dropped me an email with details and a My email address is: GrantA2@cardiff.ac.uk. You can also find me on Twitter: @DrAimeeGrant
nge for mothers! - Aimee Grant, PhD, Wellcome ardiff University. In 2012, I started doing research on infant feeding for the first time. I come from a British working class background and didn’t see a woman breastfeed at all during my childhood. I can still recall wondering at the time of that first project why didn’t women breastfeed? I thought you popped the baby near the breast and everything just worked. How wrong I was about so much! Last year, I published some research based on interviews with mother/grandmother pairs from south Wales, you can find the main findings in this animation, and I would love it if you would share this on your social media. We asked them to bring everyday objects that made them think about infant feeding, and to use these to tell us their experiences. We were very surprised to hear that as soon as women were visibly pregnant family, friends and strangers started telling them how they should feed their baby. These intrusive comments continued when the baby was born – suddenly everybody wanted to know how the baby was being fed, and to offer unsolicited advice. The mums in our study found this annoying and unhelpful; for some it really undermined their confidence. When we compared this experience to the experiences of grandmothers, it was totally different; grandmothers didn’t get these unhelpful comments.
ered on social media and Mail Online reader comments, and found the public have a lot of ales.
at trying to change individual mothers by giving them support. My research (which has been akes it for women to breastfeed outside of the home. As some of you may already know, if a her very difficult; it may lead to a decline in milk production, trying to find time to express milk ’re hungry!
tative research on experiences of breastfeeding outside of the home. Next I’ll be looking at eastfeed in public spaces. If you are aware of projects or evaluations that aren’t published in any links or reports you have.
Smokefree Baby & Me Information Packs
If a mother chooses to breastfeed it is highly recommended that they stop smoking for their o Mothers who are struggling to quit and want to breastfeed can be advised to use nicotine rep
If either or both parents smoke it is also important they are advised not to share a bed with th recently drunk alcohol, or you’re taking medication that makes you sleep more heavily.
ASH Wales have worked with Public Health Wales, Flying Start and midwives from Abertawe B booklet to help support mums to be.
We produced over 10,000 copies which were sent out to ABMU hospitals - Singleton, Neath P been placed in the pregnancy information bounty packs which are given to every mum-to-be
If you are looking for more information/resources on ASH Wales Smokefree Baby & Me Camp
own health and the babies, as their baby will be exposed to nicotine through the breast milk. placement therapy (NRT) through their GP or to ask their health advisor for more information.
heir baby (co-sleep). This is known to raise the risk of SIDS, particularly if they smoke, they have
Bro Morgannwg University Health Board (ABMU) to develop a tailored quit smoking information
Port Talbot and the Princess of Wales, as well as the Powys Teaching Health Board. These have at their midwife booking-in appointment.
paign please contact Kimberley@ashwales.org.uk
The Odyssey of Breastfeeding
In the light of feminism, working mothers have gained access to new career pathways and p substantial parental leave, women with newborns may be needing more support. However sm Breastfeeding is one of the major energy investments a woman makes after giving birth to her baby. Even after returning to their workplace, new moms need to spend their lunch breaks using breast pumps to store milk for later. Breastfeeding campaigns from the NHS encourage all women to breastfeed for at least six months. All newborns require six months of their mom’s milk for a good start in life, but can all moms deliver? More and more women choose to wait to have children until they have advanced in their careers. This means that more new moms are affected by the challenges of breastfeeding at a later age. How is it to breastfeed your newborn when you are at your 40s? The perfect person to talk about breastfeeding at a young age and at your 40s is Sofia. Sofia was brave enough to share her challenges with fearless honesty. She talked about how being a mother for the second time was surprisingly different. Thankfully, her job has given the flexibility she needed in the first few months to keep working while raising her baby with her husband. What is incredible about her story is that the first time she became a mother, Sofia was 19 years old and now she had her second child at 40. She told us all about it and more! https://www.publichealthnetwork.cymru/files/1515/3251/8394/The_Odyssey_of_ Breastfeeding_Interview.pdf
Mother to Mother Support with Breastfeeding in Breco
Brecon BIBS supports breastfeeding mums and families in Brecon and surrounding areas, w every Thursday at The Muse in Brecon (10am -12noon) for face to face support for mums w trained peer supporters offer friendly, non-judgemental support and information to help mum along; many mums come each week for a friendly chat with other breastfeeding mums. Olde all breastfed our children we understand the problems mums face, especially in the early day
In addition to the weekly drop in, mums can access support via social media using our clos to access support because even in the middle of the night it is likely (although not guaran encouragement. Facebook also reaches a wide audience of breastfeeding mums with a varie else has experienced a similar problem and overcome it.
Brecon BIBS can also be contacted by emailing bbibs@hotmail.co.uk and via our website ww
previously male-dominated professional networks and industries. Although employers offer mall a newborn may seem, the energy and attention it requires from their mother is enormous.
on
with mums able to self-refer or hearing about us from their midwife or health visitor. We meet who need help establishing breastfeeding or at any point in their breastfeeding journey. Our ms achieve their breastfeeding goals. You don’t have to be experiencing problems to come er siblings are welcome to come and play and refreshments are provided. Because we have ys. We have a collection of breastfeeding books and some pumps for loan for a small charge.
sed Facebook page, facebook.com/groups/BreconBIBS. This is a useful platform for mums nteed) someone else will be awake feeding and at the very least be able to offer words of ety of different approaches to a particular issue. It is often very reassuring to know someone
ww.breconbibs.co.uk.
Watch, Listen and Learn Podcasts We are pleased to announce that we have a new series of podcasts available for you to listen to on our website. Public Health Network Cymru have worked with a number of organisations to produce podcasts which can be downloaded and listened to on the go. All the podcasts are available in the ‘Get Involved’ section of the website.
Youtube Workplace Mental Health & Wellbeing: Employing Best Practice
Following the referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union in June 2016, Public Health Wales’ Policy Team has maintained a weekly ‘Reading List’ of guidance, research and Parliamentary reports linked to Brexit, health and the wider determinants of health. With this Reading List now comprising over 1000 points of reference, the Policy Team has developed thematic webpages to help inform public health professionals about the key issues linked to population health and the UK’s future relationship with Europe and the world. Launching today, the Brexit Health Hub comprises bilingual pages on the following: • • • • • • • • • • • •
Brexit and Agriculture Brexit and Communities Brexit and Education Brexit and Equality & Human Rights Brexit and Food Brexit and Health Care Services Brexit and Research Brexit and the Environment Brexit and Transport Brexit and Trade Brexit and Wales Brexit and Work
Commenting on the webpages, Dr. Sumina Azam, Consultant in Public Health, Policy Division, said: “Whilst the Brexit negotiations are still in progress, the potential implications of the UK leaving the European Union are vast, particularly when viewed through a wider determinants lens. By developing the Brexit Health Hub, we hope to keep professionals updated on the latest evidence and information regarding these possible impacts on their areas of practice.” The Public Health Wales Brexit Reading List is shared weekly with colleagues within the organisation, and also amongst professionals within the UK and Ireland through the UK Public Health Network. The Brexit Health Hub is hosted on the Public Health Network Cymru website, the network for professionals working on public health matters in Wales. For more information about the Brexit Health Hub, or to subscribe to the weekly Brexit Reading List updates, please contact Adam Jones.
On the Grapevine
Public Health Wales’ Policy Team Launch Brexit Health Hub
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STARTING FRIDAY 13TH JULY 2018 13th July Activity Support Group & Activity Demo. Refreshments Provide LAUNCH 20th, 27th July & 3rd August Boccia 10th August Activity Support Group - Refreshments Provided 17th, 24th August & 7th September Boccia 14th September Activity Support Group - Refreshments Provided 21st, 28th September & 5th October Chair Based Exercise
12th October Activity Support Group - Refreshments Provided 19th, 26th October & 2nd November Chair Based Exercise 19th November Activity Support Group - Refreshments Provided
Contact - Christine Heathcote - Email: getactive@arthritiscare.org.uk Tel: 02920 444155
The Headlines
#Podcast: Pip Ford, CSP’s Public Affairs and Policy Manager for Wales This episode we speak to Pip Ford, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy’s Public Affairs and Policy Manager for Wales. She discusses their new campaign, ‘Love Activity, Hate Exercise?’, which has been designed with patients and physios to get the nation moving. Evidence shows that being physically active has enormous benefits for your physical and mental health, but many people find it hard to do as much as they would like.
Screen-Time Linked With Unhealthy Eating Habits in Children A new study has found that five and six-year-olds’ screen-time is linked with low fruit and vegetable consumption and high intake of unhealthy snacks such as crisps, chocolate and biscuits. The research, led by Dr Emma Haycraft, of Loughborough University’s School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences and the NCSEM-EM, also suggests that parents’ own tech and eating habits are influential to their youngsters’ behaviours.
Glanrhyd First Welsh Hospital to Gain Green Flag Award A hospital which looks after nature as well as caring for people has become the first in Wales to receive the prestigious Green Flag Award. Glanrhyd in Bridgend is only the second hospital in the UK to receive the award, which recognises the finest parks and green spaces.
Working Together to Move the Nation - A New Manifesto for Walking and Cycling As part of an alliance of the UK’s leading walking and cycling organisations, the Ramblers launched the ‘Moving the Nation’ manifesto at the Cycling Cities conference in Manchester.
Alcohol Children and Young People Communities Education Environment Gambling Gender Homelessness Lifestyle Maternal and Newborn Mental Health Noncommunicable Diseases Nutrition Older People Oral Health Parents People with disabilities Pharmacy Physical Activity Policy Poverty Prisoners Research and Evidence Sexual Health Sexuality Smoking Substance Misuse Unemployment Veterans Violence and Abuse Work
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International Conference of Global Public Health
International Conference of Global Public Health
International Conference of Global Public Health
International Conference of Global Public Health
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University of Wolverhampton
University of Wolverhampton
University of Wolverhampton
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In the next issue Suicide Prevention Week