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The Nurturing Project is dedicated to supporting breastfeeding through peer support and a booklet entitled "Mother~Baby Experiences of Nurturing". (click here for order form for the booklet or email joelledufur@yahoo.co.uk). This booklet is part of a midwifery development project funded by the Department of Health, South Bank University, East Kent NHS Trust and East Kent Health Authority. It was piloted and peer reviewed in a Sure Start geographic area.
It is written for mothers and describes baby-holding and nurturing through a series of pictures and easy to read words. Introducing biological nurturing the booklet emphasises enjoyment and 'mother knowledge' using a non-prescriptive approach. It is the mother who is considered the baby expert. Pictures illustrate mothers and other family members nurturing their babies in many different positions.
Breastfeeding and close cuddling are viewed as a nutritional and physical continuation of the way the mother’s body cradled and nurtured the baby during pregnancy. Notice in the pictures (on the womb to world page) how the baby's body is supported entirely by the mother's, both facing and closely touching it. It is this close contact that appears to help the baby find the breast and self attach although sometimes mothers will need to help their babies to latch.
What is important to know is that you do not have to sit upright to breastfeed, although you may want to. You can breastfeed in any position that feels right for you. The position you use may change from feed to feed and that is ok.
Distribution of the booklet
Through word of mouth, over 8000 copies of the booklet have been sold and distributed in Britain. Hundreds of copies of the booklet have been purchased by Sure Start. Members of the lay and professional breastfeeding organisations such as NCT, LLL and the Association of Radical Midwives have also bought copies in bulk for individual support and training purposes. For further information please contact Joelle Dufur at 4 Corunna Close, Hythe Kent CT21 5EA or e-mail: joelledufur@yahoo.co.uk