Halton's Health Improvement Team want to help remove the stigma
I love to get involved with community events here in Halton, so when I read that the Halton Health and Improvement Team were holding a Breast Feeding Celebration Day at Norton Priory last month I just knew I wanted to be there and photograph such a beautifully spirited event at such a gorgeous and tranquil location.
The event aimed to not only provide advice on breast feeding support available for new parents and parents to be, but to also overturn breastfeeding preconceptions, myths and stereotypes and to improve breastfeeding rates locally.
With activities and taster sessions running for children and babies from Moo Music, Bloom Baby and Bloom Toddler, and Musical Mayhem, the fun day was also brimming with information at various stalls from the Halton Family Hubs and the Breastfeeding Benefits team- if you've not decided if breast feeding is for you yet, I recommend you check out their Breastfeeding in Baby Steps page for hints, tips and benefits that might help you make up you mind.
But the highlight for me, having personally struggled with breastfeeding and still holding on to raw emotions around this, was to capture the emotion of local Mums who took part, reading their own poetry about their Breast Feeding journeys. Honest, unique, real and emotional, their words brought tears to my eyes.
The event also marked the launch of the Holding Time Project- an audio trail featuring portraits of local mothers currently displayed in the Walled Garden at Norton Priority, a project aiming to help to normalise not only breastfeeding but any subject women might feel their is a stigma attached to, which prevents them from speaking openly.
Do you want breastfeeding support and information? Click here for Halton Breastfeeding and Infant Feeding Services
Support contact numbers
Health Improvement Team – Infant feeding: 0300 029 0029
National Breastfeeding Helpline: 0300 100 0212
Association of Breastfeeding Mothers: 0300 330 5453
La Leche League: 0345 120 2918
National Childbirth Trust (NCT): 0300 330 0700
The Breastfeeding Network supporter line in Bengali and Sylheti: 0300 456 2421
Get in touch
If you'd like me to cover your event, or if you are a Mum interested in a breastfeeding portrait session or portraits of your baby, please get in touch with me, I'd love to help :)
