**Maddie’s Miracle Charity Launches Breastfeeding Community Group in Partnership with Bournemouth Foodbank**
*Boscombe, Bournemouth* — Maddie’s Miracle, a dedicated charity committed to breastfeeding, infant feeding, and perinatal support, is proud to announce the launch of a new Breastfeeding Community Group in collaboration with Bournemouth Foodbank, located in Boscombe, Bournemouth.
The Maddie’s Miracle Breastfeeding Community Group is led by a team of highly qualified professionals, including two International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) and a Postnatal Doula. The group provides specialist expert breastfeeding support, infant feeding and perinatal health support. It runs weekly on a Wednesday morning from 9.30am to 11am.
Zohar Marer, Co-founder of Maddie’s Miracle, emphasised the importance of creating a supportive environment for new mothers during this transformative and often challenging phase of early parenthood. “We welcome mothers and parents with refreshments, toys for babies and a safe space to feel part of a community at a time that tends to be very challenging and vulnerable for them.”
The strategic partnership with Bournemouth Foodbank allows the Breastfeeding Community Group to reach out to hard-to-reach families who may require additional support. This collaboration is especially crucial given that Boscombe ranks among the top 10% of the most deprived areas in England, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) survey and other sources.
Debbie Coombes, Director of Bournemouth Foodbank, expressed her enthusiasm for accommodating the weekly Maddie’s Miracle group: “The Bournemouth Foodbank is more than a foodbank; we are also a community hub and a community resource. We have opened the Garden Rooms Café and we run the Baby Bank that provides emergency supplies and equipment from the stage of pregnancy up to children aged 5-yrs. We are delighted to host Maddie’s Miracle and welcome mothers, babies and families to our hub. “
Maddie’s Miracle aims to support the mothers, babies and parents who fall through the many gaps in mainstream service provision. “We are here for all mums and in particular for the complex issues that mainstream services or charities cannot support.”
Much of their support is preventative and helps mothers and babies at the early stages avoiding issues from worsening. In their words, they are “saving lives and saving minds—one mum, parent, and baby at a time.” Breastfeeding has far-reaching benefits, not only for mothers and babies but also for society and the environment. Some of these benefits include reducing the risk of infections, promoting emotional bonding, and contributing to long-term health outcomes.
Furthermore, it is estimated that increasing breastfeeding rates in the UK could save the NHS £40 million per year through improving health outcomes.
Maddie’s Miracle is determined to fill the critical gap in breastfeeding and perinatal support services. Funding for maternity, perinatal and breastfeeding services have been cut year on year. Many people are unaware that specialist breastfeeding support is not available on the NHS.
Breastfeeding is a public health issue and yet it is grossly underfunded and under-recognised despite the vast body of research showing its benefits to baby, mother, the environment and society
Specialised, evidence-based support during the years of parenthood is essential. The first 1,000 days of a child’s life are a pivotal period for development and long-term health, making support for mothers and babies during this time invaluable.
According to research: “The 1,000 days hold both great possibility and great fragility in a child’s life. The ability of a child to develop, learn, and thrive is significantly impacted by how well or how poorly mothers and children are fed and cared for throughout this period. This is because the developing brain of a child grows and develops throughout the first 1,000 days. This is also the period when the foundations for their long-term health are set. Children’s brains can create 1,000 new neural connections every second throughout this time.”
The outcomes of our support services include improved mental health and physical health of mother and baby, boost of confidence as a parent, reduced sense of loneliness and isolation. Mothers have called our support services “life saving”.
The Maddie’s Miracle charity is led by a team of highly qualified and experienced individuals, including co-founder Maddie McMahon and Trustee Professor Amy Brown.
Donations to the charity can be made by using the following link: donate.giveasyoulive.com/campaign/bournemouth-community-group
If you would like to join the Maddie’s Miracle Breastfeeding Community Group, please drop in or email for information: bournemouth@maddiesmiracle.org.uk
For more information about Maddie’s Miracle and their initiatives, please
visit Maddie’s Miracle www.maddiesmiracle.org.uk.