A BREASTFEEDING group that supports new mums in Oswestry is celebrating its one-year anniversary.

The Breastfeeding Network (BfN) holds a free drop-in group at Oswestry Library, in Arthur Street, launching in March 2023 and it is founded on the principle that every mother deserves access to reliable support

The service in Shropshire has been currently commissioned by Shropshire Council to provide face-to-face groups at Oswestry, Shrewsbury and Ludlow, and to train a group of new volunteers.

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Nicola Manford, a volunteer at the Oswestry group, said: “ I love volunteering with the BfN.

“It’s such a wonderful charity that works so hard to support mums through what can sometimes be a lonely and difficult time.

“The training we get is excellent and it’s fantastic there is now local, free, face-to-face support available in Oswestry for breastfeeding mums.

“It’s been wonderful to meet so many local mums and support them with their breastfeeding goals.

“It's lovely when mums that we have supported previously, drop in for a social chat and share their experiences with new mums.”

Led by trained volunteers, the drop-in sessions are there for any mum who feels like they need support with their breastfeeding journey, or just wants to go along for a friendly chat and meet other local, breastfeeding mums.

All of the volunteers are local mums with breastfeeding experience and a passion for supporting others with their breastfeeding journey.

According to the BfN, one mother fed back, stating: “I am so grateful for the breastfeeding support group.

“I have been several times throughout my breastfeeding journey and have found the volunteers so incredibly helpful, friendly and knowledgeable.

“I’ve always felt very welcome and no question is ever silly or too much. I always feel a lot more confident about myself as a mum after attending.

“I genuinely feel that I have been able to continue to breastfeed for as long as I have despite a number of difficulties, in part due to the advice and help from the team.”

The group runs every first and third Friday of the month from 10am-12pm at the library.

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“More information can be found at www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk

The group will be running on a slightly adjusted schedule of Friday, April 12 and 19.

If you need to talk to someone about breastfeeding, the National Breastfeeding Helpline offers friendly, non-judgemental, independent, evidence based breastfeeding support and information to anyone in the UK who needs it on 0300 100 0212.