World Breast Feeding Week is being celebrated in Walsall with a host of free events in the Manor Hospital and in the community to support mums and families.

Running from 1-7 August, this year’s campaign is taking the theme “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works,” and aims to advocate for supportive policies, tracking infant feeding trends, and building lasting lactation support systems.

Walsall Healthcare’s Infant Feeding Team is working with Midwives, Health Visitors and Walsall Council through its Family Hubs, along with Maternity and Neonatal colleagues to highlight the services and support available. The following sessions will take place throughout next week:

• Monday 3 August: Tea and cake trolley education across Walsall Manor Hospital’s Maternity Services and Neonatal Unit, with a coffee morning for inpatient mums from 10am-12noon on Ward 25
• Tuesday 4 August: BabyFest event at Walsall New Art Gallery, Gallery Square, Walsall. Meet a Community Midwife and access information on services available 11am-1pm. Visitors can enjoy baby sensory sessions, arts and crafts, baby massage. Families will be able to meet Walsall’s Infant Feeding team, Midwives, whg breastfeeding peer supporters, speech and language therapists, child car seat safety advisers and representatives from Murray Hall counselling service, all in one welcoming space. Families can book their free place online via Walsall Family Hubs website or just turn up on the day
• Wednesday 5 August: Launch of the new Infant Feeding Room at the Saddlers Centre, 10am-11am
• Thursday 6 August: Infant Feeding Team stall in the Antenatal Clinic atrium from 10am-2pm, with a cake sale, information, raffle and lucky dip, with proceeds going to Walsall Healthcare’s Well Wishers charity which regularly helps to raise funds to improve Maternity Services for all
• Friday 7 August: Cake and a Chat event at North Family Hub, 275 Blakenall Lane, Walsall, WS3 1HJ, with the Walsall Breastfeeding Peer Support Group, 11am-12.30pm

Jo Wright, Walsall Healthcare’s Director of Midwifery, Gynaecology and Sexual Health, said: “We are proud to be working together with our partners to play our part in this year’s campaign – strengthening proven strategies that protect breastfeeding in workplaces, healthcare facilities, and local communities.

“Support for breastfeeding mums is vital, both in hospital and once they are home, and creating a community network to encourage and help them every step of the way is so important. We are all committed to help families give their babies the best nutritional start in life and protect them from infection whilst recognising that breastfeeding can sometimes take a while to establish. We know, from feedback, that being able to get advice and support from others who have had similar experiences is invaluable, as well as being reassured that breastfeeding is welcomed and encouraged in the area you live and work in.

“We look forward to seeing mums and their families at next week’s events and being able to show them all the help available, as well as give them the chance to talk through their concerns or hear their suggestions.”

Walsall borough’s ambition is to be a Child Friendly Borough, as set out in We Are Walsall 2040, and aligns with the national focus of giving every child the best start in life.