Knit-wits are simply the breast
Margaret Derrick is pictured alongside the knitted breasts she helped to make.
KNITTING enthusiasts have come up with a unique way to help new mothers learn how to breastfeed their babies.
Cramlington Library Knitting Club has joined forces with health staff to create around 500 knitted breasts over the past year.
Margaret Derrick, the one-year-old group’s founder, says the knitted breasts help new mothers learn the technique of expressing their breast milk by hand.
She said: “The group has over 30 members now, and when we were asked if we would knit these breasts, we jumped at the chance of helping the community as a whole and especially new mums.
“It’s a lovely feeling knowing that you’re using your hobby to help others in the community.”
Leigh Murphy, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s infant feeding coordinator for North Tyneside, said: “They are extremely useful for showing mums how to hand-express, and they often cause a bit of a giggle, which makes learning more fun.
“Mums and their partners can come along to infant sessions and learn how to breastfeed and hand-express breast milk in a friendly supportive group led by a midwife.”
The Cramlington knitters also produce baby blankets and hats used when mothers are making skin-to-skin contact immediately following the birth of their babies.
Leigh said: “Breastfeeding is the perfect way to feed your baby as breast milk contains protective factors.
“I would like to express my gratitude to the women of Cramlington Library Knitting Club, whose contributions are making a huge difference to mothers and babies.”
The club knits clothes for premature babies too and is in the process of knitting sleeveless tank-tops to donate to children’s wards at hospitals.
The knitters meet every Wednesday at 10.30am at Cramlington Library, in Forum Way, and anyone interested in joining is invited to attend.
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Weather for Blyth
Saturday 25 May 2013
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 6 C to 13 C
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