Calling all knitters – help boost breastfeeding

Health visitor, Andria Billington

Knitters in south London are being asked to take part in a unique challenge to help breastfeeding mums in Lambeth and Southwark.

Knitted breasts are used by health visitors from Evelina London to support new mothers by demonstrating essential breastfeeding skills, such as effective attachment and positioning.

Local knitters are being called upon for support in a bid to equip every member of the health visiting team with a knitted breast.

Andria Billington, Evelina London health visitor, says: “We use knitted breasts to show mothers the most comfortable ways to breastfeed their babies. If women are comfortable, they’re likely to breastfeed for longer, which helps to improve the health of their children.

“The benefits of breastfeeding are widely known but the UK has one of the lowest rates of breastfeeding in Europe. We want to help make breastfeeding as easy as possible for mums.

“We need more knitters to take up the challenge so that each member of the health visiting team can have a knitted breast.”

If you want to help the team, you can find a knitting or crochet pattern online. Completed knitted breasts can be returned to the Breastfeeding Co-ordinators at Aylesbury Health Centre.