The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals are appealing for natty knitters and crocheters to make and donate ‘baby boob beanies’ in time for World Breastfeeding Week, 1-7 August.
The quirky hats are designed to look like a bare breast when worn by a breastfeeding baby, and originated as part of an online social movement to support and empower mums to breastfeed in public without stigma.
Tracey Hince, supervising midwife at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital’s Bournemouth Birth Centre, said: “We encourage and support new mums to breastfeed wherever possible because there are so many benefits for both mother and baby.
“We want mums to be able to breastfeed when and where they need to without fear of being ostracised. The recent incident in May of a mum being told to leave a McDonalds restaurant because she was breastfeeding demonstrates the stigma society can attach to breastfeeding.”
The boob beanies will be given as gifts to new mums at a World Breastfeeding Week picnic being held on Friday 7 August from 12-2pm by the lake at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital.
New mums and their families are invited to bring a picnic lunch, visit a number of stalls and speak to support workers and midwives from the hospital’s Bournemouth Birth Centre about breastfeeding and its benefits.
Those wanting to knit baby boob beanies for the hospital are asked to email ellie.cowley@rbch.nhs.uk or call 01202 704271 for more information.
