World Breastfeeding Week mural launched in Derry
The Bilingual Breastfeeding Café is a collaboration between local breastfeeding advocates North West BAPS, Sure Start Edenballymore, La Leche League of Ireland and Culturlann.
Mammies, babies, toddlers and members of the city’s invaluable breastfeeding support fabric have unveiled a mural at Free Derry Wall promoting the ‘Bilingual Breastfeeding Café’.
The unveiling took place on Monday morning to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week, which runs from August 1 to 7, with the theme: ‘A Sustainable Start, Strengthened by Support’.
A new initiative in Derry, the Bilingual Breastfeeding Café will be held in Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin, on Great James Street, on Monday, August 3, from 11.30am to 12.30pm.
New mum Georgina Harkin, who was at the mural unveiling with eight-week-old Malachy, spoke about the importance of breastfeeding support for new mums.
“I actually started attending the breastfeeding group from Malachy was two weeks old. That first couple of weeks with a newborn, especially your first, is so overwhelming,” said Ms Harkin.
“I found out through SureStart the group was available and when support is there, you just have to take it.
“I went along and met the other mammies in the same position and it was just great. It helped me post-partum, getting out and seeing people in the same situation.
“Breastfeeding was all new. I had never done it before but the nutrition in breast milk is amazing and gives a baby the best start in life,” she added.
Kerry Moran, another mum attending the mural unveiling, spoke to The Derry news about her experience of donating breast milk to the Western Health and Social Care Trust’s Human Milk Bank, which serves the island of Ireland.
The Milk Bank is located at the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen and supports premature and vulnerable babies.
“I contacted the Milk Bank and they sent me sterile bottles which hold 150ml of milk each. When those were all filled, I contacted the Milk Bank and they were collected by the Blood Bikers, who met me at Altnagelvin,” she said, “especially knowing I am helping a wee baby that was maybe born prematurely.”
CRS Blood Bikes is run by volunteers to deliver essential blood and medical supplies, out of hours, between hospitals and other healthcare sites across NI
The Bilingual Breastfeeding Café is a collaboration between local breastfeeding advocates North West BAPS, Sure Start Edenballymore, La Leche League of Ireland and Culturlann.
Dr Maria Herron from ibreastfeed CIC, co-ordinator of North West BAPS, said following an initial meeting earlier this year, the four groups had been “piloting and fine tuning their Bilingual Breastfeeding Café concept over the past couple of months”.
“The Bilingual Breastfeeding Café will now be available every Monday morning in the Gasyard, Derry and will host special breastfeeding events on a quarterly basis in Culturlann,” she added.
We are delighted to be part of an initiative that promotes breastfeeding, builds connections and ensures parents feel supported within their community
“North West BAPS is a parent-led initiative which came into existence in 2022 in response to Derry and Strabane having amongst the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world.
“We have been responding to direct feedback from parents about what is needed locally to support breastfeeding, and the key messages from parents have been the need to increase awareness, visibility and more access to quality resources to help families who want to breastfeed.
“The idea behind the Bilingual Breastfeeding Café came up through discussions with parents who identified the opportunity for new parents to learn Irish as well as breastfeeding.
“North West BAPS is delighted to see this concept progress from discussions to now being up and running, and we are enjoying working with our collaborators, all of whom bring unique skills to this partnership concept,” said Dr Herron.
“Also in response to ongoing feedback from parents, we have modified how this project is delivered, and we plan to keep parents centre-stage in the evolution of the Bilingual Breastfeeding Café,” she added.
Deirdre McDaid, manager of Sure Start Edenballymore said the Bilingual Breastfeeding Café demonstrated “the power of partnership in supporting local families”.
“We are delighted to be part of an initiative that promotes breastfeeding, builds connections and ensures parents feel supported within their community,” smiled Ms McDaid.
Bernardine Donohoe, deputy manager of Sure Start Edenballymore said the Café was a great idea as it would promote breastfeeding which “gives a child the best start in life”.
Also attending the mural unveiling, Mary Delargy representing Culturlann Uí Chanáin said: “Cuireann Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin fáilte roimh Bilingual Breastfeeding Cafe - seans lenár dteanga féin a chur chun tosaigh.
“Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin welcomes the Bilingual Breastfeeding Café, a chance to promote our native language.”
In addition, Cliodhna Dunne, a La Leche League leader who offers breastfeeding support at the Café said La Leche League of Ireland believed strengthening breastfeeding support to mothers, babies and families, by providing skilled and timely help, improved breastfeeding duration.
“We are proudly a part of the warm chain of support for breastfeeding,” added Ms Dunne.
Derry City and Strabane District councillor Sandra Duffy (Sinn Féin), who supported the establishment of North West BAPS during her Mayoral year, said she wanted to “commend and congratulate” the group for its “continued work to improve access to breastfeeding support for women and families right across the North West”.
“The new Bilingual Breastfeeding Café at An Cultúrlann is another important step forward in reaching more women, providing practical support and helping to improve breastfeeding rates across our Council area, which sadly remain among the lowest in Western Europe,” added Cllr Duffy.
“I look forward to attending the launch and celebrating this fantastic initiative during World breastfeeding Week.”