Mum's the word for new breastfeeding support group (From Stroud News and Journal)

Mum's the word for new breastfeeding support group

Breastfeeding should be the most natural thing in the world but many new mums struggle in those early days resulting in unnecessary stress and guilt. Now a new drop in group in Stroud, Mothers Offering Breastfeeding Support (MOBS) has been set up offering help for this very delicate and emotive subject

TWO decades ago when Meg Walker was a young mum she wanted to set up a drop-in group where new mothers of all ages and from all backgrounds could meet and support each other through the early weeks of breastfeeding.

But back then, no one was interested.

So Meg who now has three grown-up children and lives in Toadsmoor with husband

Elliot became a breastfeeding counsellor with the National Childbirth Trust, a UK charity which helps parents through pregnancy and their child's early life. Over the last 20 years she has helped around 600 women every year learn how to feed their new babies.

"I didn't find breastfeeding easy, especially at the beginning," she said.

"Then when I wanted to wean my first child I had to seek help. Getting help myself made me realise that I wanted to help others - to give something back."

She has been and continues to be the calm, reassuring presence in many households when the demands of early parenthood and breastfeeding are taking their toll - an unforgettable source of support and information when the going is tough.

She is the only NCT breastfeeding counsellor in the Stroud valleys and her expertise is invaluable to GPs, health visitors, midwives and mothers alike.

Very often health professionals will refer women to her for extra support and up until now she has helped mothers, including celebrities like Paula Yates, either over the phone or by home and hospital visits.

Now, thanks to a £4,991 grant from Awards for All, her long-time dream has come true with the foundation of the breastfeeding support group MOBS (Mothers Offering Breastfeeding Support) in Stroud.

"Very often a call or two is all that's needed and if I'm available I will visit them in their homes," she said.

"Better still they can now come to MOBS where they will get the friendship and companionship of other women who have gone through or are going through a similar experience to their own - as well as more specialist help if they need it."

The group, which was officially launched on Thursday, May 5 to coincide with national Breastfeeding Awareness Week, meets every Thursday, from 12.30 - 2.30pm in The Hall at The Painswick Inn Project in Stroud.

It is free and open to both breastfeeding mothers and ante-natal women who want to find out more about breastfeeding.

More about MOBS:

1. MOBS has been set up by a five-strong steering group of local health visitors, breastfeeding counsellors and a midwife

2. The group is run by 14 peer supporters - mothers from across the Stroud valleys who have breastfed their own children and have completed an eight-week training course in breastfeeding support.

3. MOBS in Stroud is the second group of its kind to be set up by the steering group. The first MOBS group started in Dursley in July 2004.

4. MOBS in Stroud meets every Thursday, from 12.30 - 2.30pm, in The Hall, Painswick Inn Project, Gloucester Street, Stroud.

5. The group is free and is open to any woman who is breastfeeding or considering breastfeeding.