Orkney mums celebrate World Breastfeeding Support Week

As Orkney celebrates World Breastfeeding Support Week, mums have shared how the county’s support network has helped them unleash their natural born “superpower”.

Carol Ridgway, from Kirkwall, says she wouldn’t choose to have a baby anywhere else in the world after receiving “amazing” support from Orkney’s breastfeeding support network.

Even before giving birth to baby Roslyn last October, the 41-year-old says she was given valuable information booklets and on-hand advice — support which continues to this day thanks to health visitors and Orkney’s breastfeeding peer workers.

“I was an emergency section, and we did have some feeding issues, both of us,” said Carol, who has also enjoyed meeting fellow new mums at the regular Friday support group and baby walks.

“The midwives were really great. They really helped us with getting to latch right. At any time, they were there to help.

“By the time I was home our peer supporter was in place. The health visitor — he gave me advice and information, and the peer supporter messaged regularly to check in to see how things were going.

“It was just fantastic — I used the supporter a huge amount. Even for people who don’t need as much support, I would have wanted to know it was there.”

Read more about the breastfeeding support available in Orkney in The Orcadian, available now online and in the shops.