Mayo events to mark National Breastfeeding Week
Members of Friends of Breastfeeding Mayo at an event to promote Breastfeeding Awareness Week 2024 in Moorehall.
A number of events will take place in Mayo to mark National Breastfeeding Week, which starts today (Tuesday) and continues until October 7.
In several branches of Mayo's libraries, there will be reading from the story ‘Milky’ by Maria Betsworth. In Mayo Movie World on Sunday, October 6, the movie ‘Joyride’ will be shown, and breastfeeding mums and their babies (and anyone else that is interested too!) is welcome to come along.
In addition, there will be an information stand in the foyer of Mayo University Hospital, a stand outside Penney’s in Castlebar and Tesco in Swinford. Education sessions will be held at Mayo University Hospital, Westport and Swinford.
There will be six of the weekly breastfeeding support groups running as normal in Ballina, Claremorris, Castlebar, Charlestown, Turlough and Westport.
Breastfeeding Awareness Week in Mayo is being supported by the HSE, Healthy Ireland and Mayo CYPSC, Mayo Family Resource Centres, and Friends of Breastfeeding.
This year the theme for National Breastfeeding Week is ‘Supporting you from Bump to Baby and Beyond'.
Claire Larkin, Community Lactation Consultant in Mayo, said: "We always welcome mums-to-be to all our breastfeeding support groups in Mayo and they always enjoy picking up tips from other mums on what to expect in those early days, our mums are always very honest and giving in their lived experience. We always looking forward to meeting them back to the groups with their new baby!
“Our support groups are safe spaces for mothers at all stages, whether someone is pregnant and thinking about breastfeeding, new to breastfeeding and have questions, or are having problems with breastfeeding.”
Breastfeeding mum, Maura Tilbury from Westport, said: "During the difficult initial weeks of establishing breastfeeding, Claire provided so much advice and reassurance and it is due to this support I have been lucky enough to continue breastfeeding for this length of time."
For the full programme of events for Breastfeeding Awareness Week in Mayo, please visit www.mayo.ie.
