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Keep abreast of myths with Val’s new book

by Amanda Crook
14/ 5/2008

A MIDWIFE credited with improving the health of a generation of children is launching a cartoon book to combat unfounded fears about breastfeeding.

Val Finigan  has worked with a team of mothers to produce a series of pictures for the book, ‘Saggy Boobs And Other Breastfeeding Myths’.

It will be given to new mothers and health workers to make sure they get accurate information about feeding their babies. The book was launched on Monday at the start of National Breastfeeding Awareness Week, and it has already attracted national attention.

Val, who recently collected an MBE for doubling the number of women in Oldham and north Manchester who breastfeed their babies, said: "I hope the book helps mothers to separate fact from fiction so that they are encouraged not only to initiate breastfeeding but to continue breastfeeding for longer.

"This is the first complete book I’ve written and I’m delighted with the finished product, which looks so richly colourful and appealing. I see this as the start of a series of books on infant feeding and parenting. I’m thrilled with the work of artist Lou Gardiner, who has created such impressive images, and I’d also like to express my gratitude to all the mums across the area who have been involved in putting the myths together."

The 48-year-old, from Chadderton, won a National Lottery grant of almost £6,000 to produce the book and it will be distributed to breastfeeding support groups and health professionals across Oldham, Rochdale, Bury and north Manchester.

Mothers who attended the Baby Bistro breastfeeding support network shared their experiences to help put together the book.  The most common myths about breastfeeding are that it ties mothers to the house and bottle-fed babies sleep better.

Since Val became infant feeding co-ordinator for Pennine Acute Trust four years ago the number of mothers from Oldham and north Manchester who breastfeed has gone from under 30 per cent to around 60 per cent.

And she helped Royal Oldham and North Manchester General become two of the first hospitals in the country to achieve the Unicef award, Baby Friendly status, which recognises excellent support for pregnant women and new mothers.

She set up the Baby Bistro support network and a clinic to treat babies who cannot feed properly because the tissue connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth is too tight or has grown attached to the tip.