Our maternity services have been celebrating after receiving the maternity stage three accreditation of the UNICEF UK baby friendly initiative, given in recognition of promoting breastfeeding and the mother and baby relationship.
By reaching stage three the health board has ensured that all staff caring for mothers, babies and their families have the knowledge and skills they need for the above.
Rhian Walters, Infant Feeding Co-ordinator for Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “We are delighted to get this accreditation which reaffirms the health board’s commitment to promoting breastfeeding and responsive bottle feeding.
“Our maternity staff have all been trained to support mums to make an informed decision regarding feeding their baby and we support every mum to have a close and loving relationship with their baby.”
Midwife and Infant Feeding Lead, Christena Phelan-O’Riodan, added: “We’ve seen some excellent standards of infant feeding, both with breastfeeding and responsive bottle feeding, and we’re pleased to receive this level of accreditation for the organisation.”
Breastfeeding helps to mature a baby’s gut, avoid infection, reduces the risk of infection and encourages neurological development, and mums who breastfeed also have a reduced risk of breast and ovarian cancer, postnatal depression and weak bones in later life.
Supporting mums to breastfeed their babies is one of the core components of the Welsh Government’s Healthy Child Wales Programme.
Aphelian
Hyrwyddo’r dechrau gorau mewn bywyd
Mae ein gwasanaethau mamolaeth wedi bod yn dathlu ar ôl cael achrediad mamolaeth cam tri y fenter gyfeillgar i fabanod gan UNICEF y Deyrnas Unedig, a roddir yn gydnabyddiaeth am y gwaith o hyrwyddo bwydo ar y fron a’r berthynas rhwng mam a’i baban.
Trwy gyrraedd cam tri, mae’r Bwrdd Iechyd wedi sicrhau bod yr holl staff sy’n gofalu am famau, babanod a’u teuluoedd yn meddu ar yr wybodaeth a’r sgiliau y mae arnynt eu hangen ar gyfer yr uchod.
Dywedodd Rhian Walters, Cydgysylltydd Bwydo Babanod Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Hywel Dda: “Rydym yn falch iawn ein bod wedi cael yr achrediad hwn sy’n cadarnhau ymrwymiad y Bwrdd Iechyd i hyrwyddo bwydo ar y fron a bwydo ymatebol â photel.
“Mae pob un o’n staff mamolaeth wedi cael eu hyfforddi i gefnogi mamau i wneud penderfyniad gwybodus ynghylch bwydo eu babanod, ac rydym yn cefnogi pob mam i gael perthynas glós a chariadus â’i baban.”
Ychwanegodd y Fydwraig a’r Arweinydd Bwydo Babanod, Christena Phelan-O’Riodan: “Rydym wedi gweld safonau rhagorol o ran bwydo babanod, a hynny yn achos bwydo ar y fron a bwydo ymatebol â photel, fel ei gilydd, ac rydym yn falch o gael y lefel hon o achrediad ar gyfer y sefydliad.”
Mae bwydo ar y fron yn helpu i ddatblygu coluddyn baban, yn osgoi ac yn lleihau’r risg o gael heintiau, yn ogystal ag annog datblygiad niwrolegol. At hyn, mae gan famau sy’n bwydo ar y fron lai o risg o gael canser yr ofari, iselder ôl-enedigol ac esgyrn gwan yn ddiweddarach mewn bywyd.
Mae cefnogi mamau i fwydo eu babanod ar y fron yn un o elfennau craidd Rhaglen Plant Iach Cymru gan Lywodraeth Cymru.
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