Latest news with #newborncare
CNA
7 days ago
- Business
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - The Wellness Hour - Back to work: reintegrating new mums
Returning to work after having a baby can be both rewarding and overwhelming. From managing workplace expectations to caring for a newborn, many mums face a delicate balancing act. Cheryl Goh explores the emotional and practical challenges of this transition, the evolving support systems in place, and what true work-life balance can look like for new working mums today with Sher-li Torrey, Founder, Mums@Work
BBC News
10-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Breastfeeding buddies closes down after funding cut
A breastfeeding support service which has helped mums of newborn babies for a decade has closed down after funding was Buddies was run by the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) charity in five hospitals in Greater Glasgow and Lothian, offering peer support to mothers who wanted to Scottish government had previously funded the scheme directly but this year it said it had allowed the health boards to decide how to meet local Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Lothian will no longer fund the scheme but said they remained committed to ensuring women get the breastfeeding support they need. Parents who had used the service told BBC Scotland News they were concerned that midwives and health visitors were already overstretched and would not have enough time to devote to dedicated breastfeeding mum Katie said she relied on the help of Breastfeeding Buddies when she was in hospital with her son Oliver last was born premature after a high-risk pregnancy and, at first, she found positioning him for feeding said: ''They were able to come and check that his latch was OK and just give me that bit of emotional support because it is quite a vulnerable time for a new mother."My buddy was able to check the feeding position I had him in to make sure I was OK and help me make some changes to get the best out of initiating breastfeeding.''Katie said she got a lot of practical support which gave her the confidence to begin breastfeeding in public."It's something you think is going to come so naturally to you, however it isn't always that easy, especially with him being premature," she said. New mother Sophie told BBC Scotland News the breastfeeding support service had been a lifeline when her daughter Nora was born last year.''I was quite unwell before I had Nora so she had to come a bit early which meant she was taken to intensive care for a couple of days and we didn't get off to the easiest of starts," Sophie said."'That put us on the back foot with our breastfeeding.''Sophie said the maternity wards were busy and staffing was tight and it was not until she got home that issues around breastfeeding became said that being able to go to a community group offering breastfeeding support proved crucial."Being able to go to groups with other mums and sharing your experiences and also having the expertise of the peer supporters was really key for us in helping us to continue," Sophie said. Sadia Malik is a former Breastfeeding Buddy, who volunteered to help in Edinburgh after her baby spent time in intensive she's training to become a said: "I've seen how little time the midwives have and every time you go in the wards the midwives appreciate us so much - and the parents."As a student midwife, as a mum and a volunteer, I think it's devastating to see that support is going which was so much needed in the hospital and the communities." Public Health Scotland said there is strong evidence that breastfeeding protects the health of children and said that over the past decade increasing rates among younger women and those from ethnic minorities and more deprived areas had reduced health Breastfeeding Buddies service was run by the NCT charity in five hospitals and seven community had a staff team of nine and a volunteer pool of 82 specially-trained peer supporters, split between Glasgow and last services closed on 6 June and pregnant or new mums are being advised to go online for support or contact their midwife or health visitor for help and advice. Former NCT Glasgow services manager Kirsteen Buckney said: "When we first found out that we weren't getting funded, everybody that I work with was worried about the families we support and not about ourselves losing our jobs."Statistics show that 90% of parents stop breastfeeding because they didn't have the support to continue, so without the support there that's not a choice for them anymore.''It's quite heartbreaking.''A Scottish government spokeswoman said breastfeeding rates were the highest on record, with 49% of mothers breastfeeding between six and eight weeks after birth. She said a small number of areas had previously seen support provided by third sector organisations through direct Scottish government funding, but this year a decision was taken to only provide funding to NHS boards. "This will allow them to decide how best to meet local need, in a sustainable way, over the long term," she said. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said it understood the concern the service being discontinued may bring and it ''remains committed to supporting breastfeeding women''.NHS Lothian's director of public health Dona Milne said: "We are aware of recent changes to the funding model from Scottish government and are committed to working alongside partners to ensure that women across Lothian get the support that they need."
Forbes
07-06-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Breast Milk Bank Helps Babies Thrive In Nepal
Hundreds of newborns receive the nourishment they need to survive and thrive through a program in Kathmandu supported by UNICEF, the government of Nepal and other partners. But plans to expand the services and reach more babies in need are on hold due to funding cuts. New mother Sarita Khatri Tamang rests with her newborn baby in the Kangaroo Mother Care ward at the UNICEF-supported Paropakar Maternity and Women's Hospital in Kathmandu. © UNICEF/UNI792286/Upadhayay New mother Sarita Khatri Tamang holds her baby close as she lies in a bed recovering from a C-section delivery at Paropakar Maternity and Women's Hospital in Kathmandu. She has been unable to breastfeed, but her baby is not missing out on the breast milk needed for optimal infant nutrition. Thanks to the hospital's Amrit Kosh — Nepal's first human milk bank — she is able to receive breast milk donated by other mothers. "At a time when I could barely stand up because I was in so much pain," Tamang says, "it was such a big support for me." The milk bank is part of a comprehensive lactation management center established in 2022 by the government of Nepal, with support from the European Union and UNICEF. The center ensures proper nourishment for newborns in critical condition, including many born prematurely. Around 500 babies are supported every month with donated breast milk — the next best thing to a mother's own milk. Plans to open or expand similar lactation management units in hospitals across Nepal, particularly in facilities serving large numbers of at-risk newborns, have been put on hold due as recent funding cuts have affected UNICEF's ability to support these initiatives. Funding cuts have also disrupted other key UNICEF-supported services including breastfeeding support and counseling. "The demand is still much higher than what the bank can currently supply on a daily basis," says Dr. Kalpana Upadhyaya Subedi, Chief Consultant Pediatrician and head of the Department of Neonatology at Paropakar. 'Expanding such facilities across the country would ensure that more mothers and babies receive the support they need, reducing neonatal mortality and promoting healthier outcomes for future generations." Breastfeeding is the best form of nutrition for babies, especially for the first six months of life. But breast milk is more than a meal. It also plays a critical role in protecting vulnerable infants from infections and malnutrition. On May 2, 2025, Dr. Smriti Poudel counsels new mother Sarita Khatri Tamang at the Paropakar Maternity and Women's Hospital in Kathmandu, where UNICEF supports Nepal's first Human Milk Bank. Expansion plans are on hold due to funding cuts. © UNICEF/UNI792463/Rabik Upadha Nepal faces significant challenges in early childhood nutrition. One in 4 children under age 5 is stunted, and 8 percent are wasted, with limited access to treatment, according to UNICEF. Nearly half of all infants are not exclusively breastfed, and over 1 million children suffer from anemia. 'It makes me happy to think that because of me, lives were saved.' Sushila Nagarkoti is one of the mothers who has donated to the Kathmandu milk bank. "The nurse told me that I was producing a lot of milk and asked if I wanted to donate some; I said okay, since I had more than enough milk for my own child," Nagarkoti says. "It makes me happy to think that because of me, lives were saved." Learn more about UNICEF programs in Asia Your contribution to UNICEF is more important than ever. Please donate. Right now, the lives of the most vulnerable children hang in the balance as conflicts and crises jeopardize the care and protection that they deserve. Dependable, uninterrupted and effective foreign aid is critical to the well-being of millions of children. Please contact your members of Congress and urge them to support ongoing U.S. investments in foreign assistance.
CBC
12-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
Hotline for new parents in Alberta
Primary Care Alberta's New Parent and Newborn Line connects parents with registered nurses to help them with questions about caring for their baby. Yvonne Ewanicke from Alberta Health Services has details.
News.com.au
10-05-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
New care centres are making the health of South Australians a priority
It is every mother's worst nightmare when their newborn baby has difficulty breathing. For 27-year-old mother-of-three Talisha Wagner, it became reality when faced with her five-month-old daughter Paisley struggling to breathe. Calling the healthdirect helpline, Wagner was advised to immediately head to hospital or the Elizabeth Medical and Dental Centre, where she could access urgent care services for her daughter. Paisley was then referred to and treated at the Elizabeth Priority Care Centre, a centre her mum was previously unaware of. Faced with a daunting wait in a hospital emergency department, she chose to try the clinic, where the young family was in and out in 90 minutes armed with a diagnosis and the information necessary to tackle the problem facing the newborn. 'It's happened before and we have taken her to the hospital – twice,' Wagner explains. Paisley's condition – known as laryngomalacia – is caused by floppiness of the laryngeal tissues above the vocal cords. When breathing in, the tissues above the vocal cords fall in towards the airway, causing partial obstruction. The doctor quickly diagnosed the issue, which Paisley will eventually grow out of as she gets bigger and her muscles become stronger. 'They taught me different ways for her to swallow to kind of bring it back,' Wagner says. 'It was really great as they showed me what to do in the event it happens again. 'Now she wears a sock monitor so I can keep a close eye on it.' SA Health, in partnership with the Adelaide Primary Health Network and general practices, established four Priority Care Centres across metropolitan Adelaide in Marion, Elizabeth, Para Hills West and Hindmarsh, with an additional centre located in Mount Barker. These centres provide vital community-based healthcare and treatment for eligible patients such as Paisley and her mother with urgent but non-life-threatening conditions who would otherwise be seeking treatment at a hospital emergency department. The referral-based centres can also provide a range of other services including radiology, pathology and pharmacy services, and can refer on for follow-up care. Patients who are eligible for Medicare can also access a Priority Care Centre at no cost. Talisha Wagner is a big advocate for the centres. 'Absolutely, they were amazing,' she says. 'It's not as chaotic as an emergency department and from my experience I think they have more time to be thorough and you're not having to wait around for hours on end to get the help you need.' New service is a breath of fresh air to consumers When Carolyn Ohijenko was having difficulty breathing, the 70-year-old feared yet another trip to the emergency department and the potential of a lengthy wait. Recently diagnosed with asthma, Ohijenko was having problems managing her breathing along with her medications, when ambulance officers were called to her home. Upon assessment they made a call to the SA Health Urgent Care Hub-Playford clinic, a new, dedicated out-of-hospital healthcare service, next door to the Lyell McEwin Hospital. Part of the SA Health Urgent Care Hubs, these referral-only services provide various, rapid assessments and acute care for patients whose care needs are unable to be met by primary care providers and would otherwise need to visit an emergency department. After spending up to 18 hours in departments in the past, Ohijenko was blown away by the speed and care she received at the Urgent Care Hub. 'I'm new to having experiences of bronchial asthma and after my first episode which took me to emergency, I was very scared,' she explains. 'I would have these coughing spasms and despite having the medications, they didn't seem to be working. The second time the ambulance came to my home – they were the ones who rang the new hub, which I found very fascinating.' Just a week earlier in mid-March, Ohijenko had similar breathing problems and was taken to an emergency department. She says the experience at the hub was much smoother and more comfortable. 'I was very impressed with the whole area, the medical staff and how well they looked after me,' she says. 'It was very attentive and immediate. I didn't have to sit in a plastic chair and wait to see someone. As an older person that is very uncomfortable. The people were looking after me from the moment I entered the place and they had all my complete medical history in front of them and could look after me straight away.' Located in Sefton Plaza, Woodville, Playford (Elizabeth) and Daw Park, the SA Health Urgent Care Hub multidisciplinary teams are made up of nurses, nurse practitioners, doctors, physiotherapists, pharmacists, social workers, podiatrists, occupational therapists and dietitians. It is a referral-only service, received from SA Ambulance Service, SA Virtual Care Service, general practitioners and community health care providers, while non-government organisations or consumers can even be redirected from emergency departments. Ohijenko says these hubs take some of the strain off our emergency departments. 'For us older people, we have complex issues, so sometimes we don't have a choice but to make an emergency call,' she explains. 'I would 100 per cent use the services again. They did everything they could for me, from showing me how to use the medications properly to making recommendations to my local GP. They were great.' Been there, lived that Jess Rolevink speaks with authority about the crucial role peer support plays in helping people deal with their mental health challenges. As the peer practice lead at the Northern Adelaide Medicare Mental Health Centre, she sees every day the impact empathy and understanding from people with lived experience has on those who may be struggling with issues such as extreme anxiety and depression. And she only wishes the service – designed to help give people the care they need when they need it to keep them out of hospitals – existed when she was dealing with her own distress. 'During my teenage years and my twenties, I really struggled with anxiety and depression quite badly,' she says. 'It was so hard to get help. I was in and out of hospitals. 'That was it back then – there was no such thing as valuing lived experience. For me, my experience was one of isolation and of feeling judged. There was no one there that could say to me, 'you know what Jess, I get it. I absolutely get what you've been through and you're going to be OK'. 'I never experienced that and so this is why this role is so important. It just helps so much.' Rolevink works with a team of 25 peer support workers and a similar number of clinicians at the walk-in Elizabeth centre, described as 'a welcoming place for people to access mental health information, services and supports from qualified professionals over extended hours.' Anyone can reach out for support for themselves, a loved one, friend, colleague or community contact. The service is free and no appointment, referral or Medicare card is needed. Similar centres are in Adelaide, Mount Barker, Mount Gambier and Port Pirie. Northern Adelaide Medicare Mental Health Centre operations lead Rebecca Ljubic says all five centres are tailored to meet the needs of their local communities. 'When people experience a mental health crisis or distress they often turn to a hospital and emergency department and that's not always the best fit, given EDs are really tailored for physical health needs, and not so much mental health needs,' she says. The service aims to – where appropriate – provide immediate support to reduce distress; provide in-house assessment, treatment and support; and connect people with the most appropriate ongoing support. Ljubic says the focus is on providing a 'warm and welcoming' space, far removed from a cold, clinical setting. 'There's a lounge room environment for people, all the consulting rooms are very low stimulus, there's mood lighting,' she says. 'It's relaxed and comforting to help support people in a homelike, relaxing sort of environment.' There has been growing local demand for the service. 'For our immediate access – the walk-in component of our service – we are currently seeing more than 300 people a month. And that's just stepping up and up and up each month.' Ljubic agrees the 'peer-first' lived experience component of the service helps provide a balanced and holistic care model. 'A lot of people come into the service feeling distressed, in crisis and hopeless but having that peer connection – having someone there who believes in them – helps them to regain some of that hope,' she says. 'Not everyone requires clinical intervention either. Some people might come in and they'll be able to talk with a peer and talk it through. 'Some may come in and might have some very serious things happening in their life where safety is concerned. That's where a clinician will become involved and provide some support around some of those more complex situations.' Rolevink says hearing others talk about their own lived experience in a 'purposeful and authentic way' can have a powerful effect – and reflects again on the lack of post-hospital care during her own mental health journey. 'What I would have loved back then would have been a combination – someone with lived experience and someone with the clinical know-how to essentially walk alongside me. And that's what we do here.'
