Roscommon’s 'We’re Breastfeeding Friendly' launch this week
Roscommon’s ‘We’re Breastfeeding Friendly’ is being launched this week in Lough Key Forest and Activity Park to coincide with National Breastfeeding Week.
An exciting new initiative, Roscommon’s ‘We’re Breastfeeding Friendly’ is being launched this week in Lough Key Forest and Activity Park to coincide with National Breastfeeding Week. The launch event, which is free to attend, will take place in the Moylurg Room, Lough Key Forest and Activity Park, Boyle, Co, Roscommon on Thursday 2nd October from 11am to 1pm.
National Breastfeeding Week runs from 1st to 7th October, and this year’s theme is ‘Hold me close: The power of skin-to-skin contact’.
‘We’re Breastfeeding Friendly’ aims to help improve the health and wellbeing of breastfeeding mothers, babies and their families through the development and promotion of breastfeeding friendly businesses, public offices, organisations and communities.
‘We’re Breastfeeding Friendly Roscommon’ is an initiative led out by Children and Young People’s Services Committee (CYPSC) Roscommon Early Year’s subgroup in partnership with Roscommon County Council and most importantly breastfeeding mums!
Together, the groups support business, community and public service settings to welcome breastfeeding mothers and families; listen to the voice of breastfeeding mothers and develop supports enabling them and their families to be active in the community and support parents during the key life transition of becoming a parent.
They also support a strong culture of connectedness – between agencies and within communities (and of course, between mother, family, baby and community).
Aisling Dunne, Healthy Ireland Coordinator Roscommon County Council said, “‘We’re Breastfeeding Friendly Roscommon’ is a wonderful example of how businesses, organisations and statutory bodies can come together to promote and support health and wellbeing of babies and their mothers. I encourage businesses, community groups and organisations that have premises open to the public to sign up to the campaign to receive recognition as a breastfeeding friendly space in County Roscommon. We invite you to join us for the launch on Thursday 2nd October from 11am to 1pm, it is a family friendly event with refreshments provided.”
Anne Marie Murphy, Health Promotion & Improvement Officer said “‘We’re Breastfeeding Friendly Roscommon’ reminds us that it takes a village to raise a child. This initiative listens to the needs of breastfeeding mothers and helps them and their families to be active in the community while also supporting a culture of togetherness. When we work together in a community we can make the healthy choice the easy choice.”
Joanna O’Reilly, Family Support Worker said “Breastfeeding for parents fosters a powerful emotional connection between mother and baby through skin-to-skin contact. This releases oxytocin during feeding which fosters a strong, special bond between mother and baby promoting a healthy positive maternal-infant relationship. This lays the foundation of having an open and strong connection as their child grows up. Successful feeding can contribute to a mum’s confidence and wellbeing and in turn fosters the positive mental health of the baby.”
Louise Moran, CYPSC Coordinator Roscommon, would like to invite people to attend the launch, to see how they can support this initiative in making Roscommon Breastfeeding Friendly.
For more information, please contact breasfeedingfriendlyroscommon@gmail.com
