MORE than 800 health care professionals and breastfeeding experts from around the world will descend on the BIC for the Unicef UK Baby Friendly Conference next Wednesday and Thursday.

Delegates will hear about research into breastfeeding and obesity, stem cells in breast milk, postnatal depression, and care for premature babies.

There will also be presentations on how to improve breastfeeding support for new mothers.

Sue Ashmore, Unicef UK Baby Friendly initiative director, said: “It is great that our conference is taking place in a town where services for breastfeeding mothers are making such big leaps forward.”

She said the Royal Bournemouth Hospital had been working hard towards making sure that every pregnant woman and new mother is offered information about breast and bottle feeding and supported in her choice.

The hospital has passed the first stage of the globally recognised Baby Friendly accreditation. The full award is given when a hospital passes stage three, which usually takes five years.

The midwifery course at Bournemouth University is also working towards including Baby Friendly standards in its teaching.