A newly trained team of volunteer mum’s are providing additional support to parents on Hereford County Hospital’s maternity ward as they transition into parenthood.

The team of five volunteer ‘peer supporters’ have first-hand experience of motherhood and provide an extra non-clinical layer of support to new parent’s while they are on the maternity ward at Hereford County Hospital.   

Peer supporters provide help and non-clinical advice on caring for and bonding with your baby, breastfeeding, responsive bottle feeding and enabling close and loving relationships between a parent and their baby.   

New mum Charlotte Prothero said: “The peer volunteers are a really positive form of support and they offer reassurance and advice in the early days of becoming parent and are happy to help for as long as it is needed” 

Bethan a volunteer peer supporter at Wye Valley NHS Trust, said: “It is a privilege to be able to offer support to new parents at such a precious time. 

We have dedicated time to sit and listen to new mum’s and offer help with various aspects of caring for a new baby”. 

Arwen Nixon, Public Health Midwife at Wye Valley NHS Trust, added: “We’re delighted as part of the national Breastfeeding Awareness Week (1 to 7 August), to promote this new service providing extra support to parents while they are on our maternity ward. 

“Our Baby Friendly Peer Supporters help to empower new parents and act as a good source of information, including giving advice on breast/infant feeding and bonding, and this service has been introduced following feedback from parents.   

“To have peer supporters with first-hand experience on our maternity ward is invaluable and helps to give extra reassurance to new parent’s, and is a great addition to the care provided by our maternity team.

“We also have excellent breast and infant feeding support for parents when they return home with their baby and we will shortly be offering this service at community locations”.

For more information about infant feeding and caring for your baby visit Wye Valley NHS Trust’s website page, maternity, infant feeding and caring for your baby https://bit.ly/2TKBA3B

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Notes to Editors WVT:

• Wye Valley NHS Trust is a provider of health services across Herefordshire and beyond. The Trust exists to improve the wellbeing, independence and health of the people we serve.
• By working closely with our partners, we can make good our promise to deliver a quality of care we would want for ourselves, our families and our friends.
• With an estimated annual turnover of around £250 million, we employ around 3,000 staff. We aim to build new relationships between our staff, patients, service users and their carers with the wider community.

For further information please contact:

Fiona Gurney, communications officer, or John Burnett, Communication and Engagement Manager, Wye Valley NHS Trust: 01432 372928