THEY'VE inspired parents across Dorset. Now posters produced in the county encouraging new mums to breastfeed will be seen across the UK.

Produced by Dorset HealthCare, the posters – which couple positive images with slogans parents can relate to – have been shared and downloaded thousands of times and picked up by organisations around the world, including UNICEF.

And now they helping to promote the benefits of skin-to-skin contact during the early months of a child’s life, encouraging more parents on the breastfeeding journey.

The posters have been shown across the UK as part of Breastfeeding Celebration Week.

Jane Scattergood, Maternity Advisor for Public Health England, said: “Dorset Healthcare has shared fabulous posters showing breastfeeding in all walks of life, and we are pleased to share these as part of the celebration.”

England has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world. While 80 per cent of babies are breastfed at birth, just one per cent are exclusively breastfed by six months.

The campaign aims to encourage more parents to stick with breastfeeding, and skin-to-skin contact is the main theme of the week. Close contact transfers the mother’s ‘friendly bacteria’ to the baby, providing protection against infection. It also releases hormones which calm and relax both mother and baby.

The Dorset HealthCare posters are designed to emphasise the benefits of this intimate contact for for both mums and dads.

Dorset HealthCare's Liz Stacey, the Trust’s Breastfeeding Advisory Lead, said it was a “privilege” that the posters were forming part of a national campaign.

“We are delighted they have again been recognised for their originality and diversity, and are being used to help empower women to achieve their breastfeeding goals,” she said.

“The posters take an honest, realistic approach to breastfeeding which mums can relate to, and help health professionals to openly discuss breastfeeding with mothers and their partners.”

The posters are on display in clinics, GP surgeries, children’s centres and maternity units across Dorset.

  • More information at dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/breastfeeding