Midwives' plea for knitted breasts
Midwives in Lincoln are urging anyone with a pair of knitting needles to start work on creating a pair of woolly breasts.
The fuzzy boobs will be used to help young mums-to-be learn how to breastfeed.
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Knitted breasts are being used to teach young mums-to-be how to breastfeed their babies
Dawn Thomas, community midwife manager for United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust, is calling for knitting enthusiasts to follow a basic pattern and create artificial breasts, which would be used in feeding demonstrations.
"We want to find the best way for midwife staff to explain breastfeeding to new mums," said Mrs Thomas.
"Breastfeeding co-ordinators have produced dolls and knitted breasts and we've found it to be an excellent way to show young mums what to do – and a much easier way to demonstrate the correct way to go about things.
"If a mother is being shown how to breast feed on her own body, then when she looks down she can't see if the baby is attached properly.
"If someone is sitting showing the mother with a doll and a fake boob, then they can show the action the baby is going to take and the correct way to hold the baby.
"The plastic, artificial ones have almost got a sticky sensation to them, and the realism can be very off-putting.
"The knitted ones are a lot more fun, and a great way to break the ice straight away. You can knit them in a whole range of different colours, to try to make future mums smile."
For more information on how to help, Mrs Thomas call (01522) 512512.
8 Comments
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by Victoria, lincoln
Tuesday, September 29 2009, 5:29PM
“dont understand the baby P reference...anyways As less mothers feed the "art" of breastfeeding isnt passed down this is why the need for knitted boobs if they don't use them proffesional have to touch the mum which even though good intentions can be upsetting. Animals do have problems the young die.
I do however think it is a shame when mums decide to bottle feed when most women can do it with the right support . we have terrible breast feedibg rate in our county not as low as others so ANYthing that helps mums understand whats normal for breastfed baby is all good in my eye and thses knitted boobie have been proven to work!
As other children see mummy antys sisters breastfeeding those children have a much higher chance of sucess”
by A, Lincoln
Tuesday, September 29 2009, 4:48PM
“I object to you Haydn I was unable to master this basic task 9 years ago due to the fact that baby refused to latch on and have had to live with the guilt and feeling a failure so I don't need your offensive comments thankyou, far from becoming a baby p my daughter is a healthy happy 9 year old, why should we feel guilty for something we cannot/ do not want to do? Are you now inferring that everyone who bottle feeds for whatever reason is going to be a cruel parent? I may have mastered it if people had been more obsessed then and the extra support there, anything that helps is a good idea so don't be so obnoxious!!!”
by ed, scotland
Tuesday, September 29 2009, 10:45AM
“instead of your comments you males get on knitting .”
by rick, Lincoln
Tuesday, September 29 2009, 10:00AM
“why arent mums who bottlefeed given the same sort of support like mums who breastfeed and nother question is what would women think about males breastfeeding.”
by Martin, Lincoln
Tuesday, September 29 2009, 9:53AM
“Oh, nice work, S. Write a lengthy rant at Haydn for generalising women and then generalise men in your last sentence. Duh.”