World Breastfeeding Week highlights year-round support for Walsall families

Throughout the week, local families were able to access a range of events, information and services. This included Walsall’s annual BabyFest event at The New Art Gallery Walsall, which brought together more than 100 families for a day of activities, expert advice and family-focused support.

A new breastfeeding room was also officially opened at the Saddlers Centre, providing families with a welcoming and comfortable space to feed their babies while visiting Walsall town centre. The room has joined the Walsall Welcomes Breastfeeding Scheme, which now includes more than 60 breastfeeding-friendly venues across the borough.

The week also highlighted the importance of accessible support before and after birth. National research shows that around 30% of parents reported that additional support in hospital would have helped them continue feeding for longer.

In Walsall, partnership work is continuing across maternity services, health visiting, Family Hubs and trained peer supporters to strengthen infant feeding support for families. This includes the continued development of antenatal peer support and new partnership arrangements, with whg peer supporters soon supporting families on postnatal wards.

This work is supported by Walsall’s continued progress through the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative, an internationally recognised programme that supports services to improve care for families around infant feeding, early relationships and giving babies the best possible start in life.

Accreditation is achieved in stages, with Walsall’s Family Hubs achieving Stage 1 accreditation and now working towards Stage 2. Walsall’s Health Visiting service has achieved Stage 3 accreditation, recognising further progress in embedding Baby Friendly standards across local services.

This helps ensure families receive evidence-based, consistent infant feeding advice and information across the borough, whether they are accessing support through Family Hubs, health visiting services or partner organisations.

Community-based support is available through weekly breastfeeding peer support groups, which took place across Walsall’s four Family Hubs during World Breastfeeding Week and continue throughout the year. No booking is required and families are welcome to drop in.

National research also shows that pain and discomfort can affect breastfeeding experiences, with painful breasts or nipples cited by around 25% of women as a reason for stopping. The peer support groups provide an opportunity for families to access information, practical advice and support with common feeding challenges.

Groups take place at:

• South & Central Family Hub, Birchills Street, Walsall, WS2 8NF. Tuesdays, 10.30am – 12.30pm. Run by whg Children’s Champions.
• East Family Hub, Silver Court, Brownhills, WS8 6HA. Wednesdays, 10.30am – 12pm. Run by whg Children’s Champions.
• West Family Hub, Ilmington House, Crescent Road, Darlaston, WS10 8AE. Thursdays, 12.30pm – 2pm. Run by whg Children’s Champions.
• North Family Hub, 275 Blakenall Lane, Walsall, WS3 1HJ. Fridays, 11am – 12.30pm. Run by the Walsall Health Visiting Service.

Details of local support groups, breastfeeding-friendly venues and infant feeding advice can be found on the Walsall Family Hubs website: https://family-hubs.walsall.gov.uk/

Families also use the Walsall Family Hubs website to find breastfeeding-friendly venues near them with the new, interactive map feature: https://family-hubs.walsall.gov.uk/feeding-your-baby 

For more information, families can also email familyhubs@walsall.gov.uk.

For 24/7 confidential breastfeeding information and support, call the National Breastfeeding Helpline on 0300 100 0212.

World Breastfeeding Week supports Walsall’s wider vision to be a child-friendly borough by 2040, and ensure all children and young people can thrive, be happy, and reach their full potential.