City babies get taste of cafe society

Max Leggett enjoys the facilities at the new SureStart Baby Café in Bowthorpe.

19 May 2006 10:17

A midwife is hoping to bring breastfeeding back in fashion after setting up the city's first drop-in baby café.

New mums who want help with breastfeeding or just general support can now get it for free at the new centre which opened in Waldegrave, Clover Hill, yesterday.

It gives mothers and pregnant mums the chance to relax, have a drink and learn about breast feeding in an informal atmosphere.

Mum-of-two community midwife Debbie Ticehurst set up the café up because she wanted to encourage more mums to breastfeed and to lessen any stigma they felt was attached to it.

She said: “I was already running a breastfeeding support group and then there was this incident in June last year when a woman in Watton was moved on by the police because she was breastfeeding. I thought you can't go anywhere without people frowning at the fact you are breastfeeding.

“Many people find it disgusting to see a woman breastfeed in public. It's really sad. It can be done discreetly without exposing anything but it's frowned upon nonetheless. So we thought it would be nice if people had somewhere they could come and have a drink without worrying about offending people in public.”

There is a play area for accompanying toddlers and partners are also welcome.

Every week she and two health support workers help mums with any problems they are having.

“It's very common to have problems with breastfeeding, it's not the easiest thing to do in the first couple of weeks to a month so this is a way to support them. We also help them wean their babies off the breast if they go back to work.”

She said expectant mums were also encouraged to attend.

Mrs Ticehurst said: “About 75 per cent of women breast feed in hospital after giving birth, but that figure drops down to 65pc after they have been discharged, and two weeks after they have been discharged by the midwife that figure drops down to 53pc.

“Some people do bottle feed from day one but breast feeding is better for the baby than bottle feeding and it's good for the mum as well. That's why we encourage it. There are statistics which say that children who are breastfed tend to be more intelligent - but a lot of people would dispute that.”

The project has been supported and funded by the Bowthorpe and West Earlham SureStart scheme.

The first baby café in Norfolk opened in Wymondham and celebrated its first birthday in March. A café opened in Great Yarmouth earlier this month.

Health visitor Margaret Holtz, who set up the Wymondham café, officially opened the Norwich café yesterday.

The first baby café opened in the UK in Haywards Heath, Sussex, five years ago. The fashion has now spread overseas to New Zealand and Singapore.

Breast is best

This week is National Breastfeeding Week

The World Health Organisation recommends mothers breastfeed for the first six months of their baby's life as it provides all the nutrients the baby needs.

Breast feeding is better for the baby than bottle feeding because babies are less likely to get infections such as gastroenteritis as they get immunity from the mother.

When the milk comes from the mother it is direct to the baby so there is no problem with sterilising equipment.

Breastfeeding also helps the baby's immune system mature, aids digestion and supports brain growth.

Important long-term benefits include a reduced risk for asthma, allergies, childhood obesity and some childhood cancers.

Breastfeeding is also good for mums because it protects them later in life from ovarian cancer and breast cancer and osteoporosis.



The Norwich baby café meets every Thursday from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. For more information go to www.thebabycafe.co.uk

Do you have a breast feeding story you would like to share? Call the Evening News on (01603) 772443 or email eveningnews@archant.co.uk

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