A boost for breastfeeding – PHA funds new post to benefit mums and babies

A new UNICEF UK Professional Assistant has been appointed to ensure that pregnant women and new mums are given the best information and support on feeding and caring for their babies.

Kristy-Lee Greene has been appointed to this new role, which is supported by the Public Health Agency (PHA). The role has been developed to enable Health and Social Care Trusts and Sure Starts to implement the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) best practice standards.

The Baby Friendly approach involves midwives, health visitors, neonatal nurses, doctors, support staff and Sure Start workers implementing policies that support breastfeeding. Implementing Baby Friendly standards has been shown to increase breastfeeding rates. The programme is particularly important in Northern Ireland where the rate of breastfeeding is lower than other parts of the UK at only 44% at the time of discharge from hospital.

Kristy-Lee has a wealth of experience in the health sector. She continues to work as a neonatal nurse and a health visitor and has experience co-ordinating a breastfeeding peer support service.

She will be trained by a team of experts and will work closely with the PHA Regional Breastfeeding Lead Janet Calvert. Kristy-Lee will be involved in training midwives, health visitors, nurses, maternity support workers and Sure Start staff.

She will also gather the views of pregnant women and new mothers in maternity units and within health visiting teams to ensure that their views shape staff and service development.

Speaking about the new role, Janet Calvert said: “PHA is pleased to support this important post which will help health professionals and support workers to improve the support they provide to pregnant women and new mothers in relation to how they feed and care for their babies.”

Sue Ashmore, Programme Director of the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative said: “Achieving Baby Friendly accreditation is quite complex and takes a lot of hard work. Experience has shown that Health and Social Care and Sure Starts really benefit from having one-to-one support, guidance and encouragement.

“UNICEF UK are delighted that Kristy-Lee is starting in this new role, she will do much to encourage improvements in practice that will benefit all mothers and babies in Northern Ireland.”

Kristy-Lee Greene said: "I am delighted to have this fantastic opportunity to work with UNICEF to promote the implementation of the BFI standards in Northern Ireland and to provide ongoing support for the various health and social care trusts, Sure Starts and the teams of staff who provide day to day care and support to breastfeeding mums.

“It is a very exciting time to be involved, as UNICEF BFI implement the new training programmes and resources which focus on the promotion of positive relationship building between mums and babies. ”