The NHS Trust in north Cumbria is offering support for mums as part of National Breastfeeding Celebration Week. 

The week takes places from June 27 until July 3 and as part of this the Trust will be hosting a special antenatal open day in Penrith. 

Andrea Harriman, Infant Feeding Lead, and Specialist Midwife at NCIC, said: "Breastfeeding provides infants with all the nutrients they need but it also provides comfort, love and protection. 

"Breastfeeding is the biological norm, provides the best start in life and has a positive impact on a baby’s development, from strengthening immunity and reducing the risk of infections to emotional bonding and building long term mental and physical resilience."

The week celebrates the benefits of breastfeeding and aims to raise awareness of the help and advice available to promote, protect and support breastfeeding for all. 

The main message of the week is how amazing breastfeeding is and to raise the profile of all the wonderful support available in our area. 

Bernice Radcliffe, Infant Feeding Lead for Maternity at NCIC, said: "It also has a positive impact for mums and improves their health too by lowering the incidence of certain cancers, disease, depression and diabetes."

A special antenatal breastfeeding open day will take place at Penrith Hospital on Tuesday, June 28 from 1pm to 4pm.

The event will give out information to help expectant and new mums preparing to feed their babies. It will cover position and attachment, dispel some breastfeeding myths and advice on harvesting colostrum.

Ms Harriman added: "Bernice and I commenced our role of infant feeding lead specialist midwives last year and since then we have been supporting mothers and their partners to breastfeed, as well as raising awareness of breastfeeding to ultimately improve the health of those in our area.

"The videos we have produced reiterate that everyone has a part to play in supporting breastfeeding mums from partners and wider family members to those in the communities of Cumbria too. 

"We’d like to thank the people in the videos, who range from shop keepers, hotels to health professionals, this shows everyone’s commitment and sometimes how a little bit really can go a long way."