After having to pause visits to support parents on the neonatal wards during Covid, this week our Lothian Breastfeeding Buddies have some amazing news. Find out more.
We’re delighted that this Monday, our Lothian Breastfeeding Buddies (top picture shows Steph, Jacqui, Sadia and Amie) returned to supporting neonatal families in Edinburgh’s largest hospital, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.
After almost three years, we’re moving forward from the challenges of Covid
Lothian Breastfeeding Buddies first started in mid-2019 to provide community breastfeeding groups and neonatal unit peer support.
Zoe Brown, Breastfeeding Services Manager for Lothian Breastfeeding Buddies, says: “Our peers were enthusiastic and passionate, staff on the neonatal ward looked forward to their presence and families told us they benefited from our support.
“Unfortunately, as the peer supporters started to settle into a pattern of visiting the unit, it collided with the increasing restrictions to mitigate the impact of Covid and everything stopped.”
As restrictions eased, Lothian Breastfeeding Buddies restarted community breastfeeding and post-natal support. However, they were still unable to visit neonatal and the parents of the most vulnerable babies. But now, through regular communications with the infant feeding staff at NHS Lothian, they have restarted their neonatal support.
Zoe says: “After almost three years, it feels like the final step of our project’s recovery and that we’re moving forward from the challenges of Covid.
“We wouldn’t be at this stage without our fabulous team Leader Danielle, the wonderful NHS Lothian team and of course our amazing volunteers! Well done all – a great way to bring 2022 to a close!”
If you’d like to access support from Lothian Breastfeeding Buddies, you can contact them on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
To find local feeding support, as well as drop-in groups and activities in your area, put your postcode in the search field on this page.
You can also call our free Infant Feeding Line every day from 8am to midnight on 0300 330 0700, even over the festive period.
Search for free groups and activities happening in your area.
