Bump to Baby Event in Peebles

Breastfeeding isn’t new; it’s one of the oldest and most natural ways to feed the young, not to mention the healthiest option for both mum and baby. The Healthy Living Network works hard to raise the profile of breastfeeding with mums to be by explaining the advice and support that is available to them from their midwives and health visitors across the Borders. This helps enable mums to be who have not yet decided how they are going to feed their new babies, to make informed choices.

The JHIT is hosting a Bump to Baby Event on Tuesday 24 March in the McFarlane Hall, at the back of the Old Parish Church in Peebles from 12 noon – 2pm. The event is aimed at mums to be and their partners, friends and families with babies up to six months of age, and will provide an opportunity to meet professionals and local organisationswho can provide support and information about pregnancy, becoming a parent and of course breastfeeding.

Dr Eric Baijal, Joint Director of Public Health for NHS Borders and Scottish Borders Council, is a keen advocate of breastfeeding and expressed his support for this event: “Breastfeeding is key to better health in babies and has additional health benefits for mothers.  

“We are very keen in the Scottish Borders to encourage breastfeeding and Bump to Baby events are key opportunities to promote breastfeeding and to help increase breastfeeding rates in the Borders.

“NHS Borders performs very well virtually meeting the national target of 33% of babies currently exclusively breast fed at 32.9%.

“We wish to foster a culture where this is the natural and preferred way for mothers to feed their babies where possible. We would like to see half the babies born in the Borders still receiving breastmilk at six weeks of age.”

NHS Borders now has 19 trained Peer Breastfeeding Supporters. Their role includes helping mums with difficulties they might face surrounding breastfeeding. The support they provide is additional and complementary to the care women receive from NHS Borders health professionals.

Dr Eric Baijal added: “Mothers often need encouragement, support and advice when they are making the best choice for their baby and the Peer Support Volunteers play a vital role in this.”

The Bump to Baby event in Peebles on 24 March will host a pop-up Bookbug session for the babies to enjoy, and handmade baby blankets donated by Project Links UK will be handed out free of charge at the event.

 For more information on why breastfeeding is best for you and your baby visit the breastfeeding pages on our website.