Breastfeeding can be tough, wherever you live. Many mums find it more difficult than they expected – and trying to breastfeed can be a painful and stressful process.
In the UK, there is an enormous amount of practical and emotional support available to help mums with their breastfeeding journey. From NCT classes to midwives on the labour ward, home visits to supportive Facebook groups and web forums – useful advice and information is easily accessible.
In the communities where Child.org works in Kenya, internet access is limited and expensive, and young mums, in particular, can be intimidated by health services – or simply unaware of the support that is available. That means they’re not receiving vital health advice and support to keep them and their babies healthy.
Last year, Ruth, a young mum in Meru, told us that when she first became pregnant with her son Martin, she didn’t know enough about feeding her baby and had nowhere to turn for advice. She said “I wish I had known. I wouldn’t have fed him bananas after two weeks”. Ruth’s not alone – a survey we conducted in rural Meru shows us that 66% of mums don’t know any benefits of breastfeeding their baby.
That’s why breastfeeding training is an important part of Team Mum! Simple tips, like how to help your baby to latch on firmly, can make a big difference to new mums. Team Mum social mobilisers teach young mums everything they need to know about feeding their new baby and looking after themselves. In training sessions, they explain different breastfeeding positions, and use a crocheted training boob to demonstrate the best technique.
Join Team Mum and help us reach new mums like Ruth with everything they need to know about feeding their new baby and looking after themselves.
A donation of £12 could pay for the entire kit for one Team Mum social mobiliser, including training resources, a crocheted training boob, stationary, a Team Mum tote bag.
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Send us an email if you’d like to see a copy of the session guides that we use to teach mums in Ruth’s community about breastfeeding.