We’d like to say a big thank you to The Alexa Trust who have generously funded breast pumps for our Neonatal Unit and for the Neonatal Outreach and Infant complex health team.
Last Tuesday Dennis, Chairman of The Alexa Trust, Kaya, Chief Executive of Lowestoft and Waveney Breastfeeding Support and Shelly, our Infant Complex Health Liaison Sister, all gathered with some of our charity team and members of the Neonatal Breastfeeding team to formally hand over the four Ardo Calypso pump kits and 17 Elvie stride pumps that have been purchased with the money that was donated by the Trust.
The almost £5,000 donation will mean that many new mums will be able to benefit from one of the pumps, and will be supported to use them via the Neonatal and local breast feeding teams.
The Alexa Trust is a UK charity which aims to support parents with babies in Neonatal care, providing assistance through the provision of grants as well as projects such as funding breastfeeding support. The Trust was set up in memory of Alexa James who was born prematurely in 2015 but sadly lost her battle for life after being born too soon, too small and after experiencing too many setbacks. To make something positive from such a terrible experience, the Trust was set up to help parents going through the toughest time they might ever experience. In addition to providing support to parents with children in Neonatal Units, the Alexa Trust also aims to promote and protect the health of women and their babies through education and raising awareness of pregnancy related issues. You can read more about their work here; https://thealexatrust.org/
Shelly said; “I met Dennis a few weeks ago, when the Human Milk Foundation and Lowestoft and Waveney Breastfeeding Support launched their new donor milk hub at Waterlane Leisure Centre in Lowestoft, and asked if The Alexa Trust would consider supporting us. We are delighted that this has resulted in funding for the pumps as this will mean we are able to support more new mums with breastfeeding. These pumps are a real godsend and will make such a difference. The Elvie pumps are hands free which means rather than having to stop and take time in one place to express, the pumps can be used while you continue to get on with other things. Pump expressing can protect breastfeeding by ensuring its more accessible, so these will really help.”
The pumps will help new mums express milk for their young babies who are being cared for in the unit and they will then be able to take them home with them. This donation follows on from the success of work during World Breastfeeding Week to raise awareness of the support our hospital offers all parents to make an informed choice about infant feeding, while recognising the important benefits that breastfeeding provides for babies.
You can read more about Lowestoft and Waveney Breastfeeding Support here; https://www.lowestoftandwaveneybreastfeeding.co.uk/