Why the 'Booby Bus'?
Women and parents around the UK are struggling and in need of professional support. Maddie's Miracle is a national breastfeeding support charity. We provide breastfeeding and perinatal support and education to parents in need.
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The Vision
Our vision is to renovate a mini bus into a mobile Breastfeeding Support Space. This vehicle will travel to reach vulnerable parents in need, support grass roots breastfeeding groups and pop-up breastfeeding clinics around the UK.
Our services will be delivered in a Covid-safe manner while coordinating with other professionals who refer beneficiaries to our services.
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What kind of services will the bus deliver?
On board the bus, there will be one-to-one sessions with Breastfeeding Counsellors or Lactation Consultants that provide support, education and guidance.
These sessions will address any feeding issues, concerns or challenges with breastfeeding/ infant feeding - and in doing so, support the perinatal mental health and physical health of the mother or parent.
We will also support mothers from the ethnic and refugee communities and chest-feeding parents.
(Picture shows a draft sketch of internal of bus; courtesy of Hayley Shing: http://www.mydoulabuddy.com )
Why are Maddie's Miracle Services Needed?
Did you know that the UK has amongst the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world? *Most women state that they stopped breastfeeding BEFORE THEY WANTED TO due to lack of support and discrimination.* - And did you know that breastmilk provides vital protection (and antibodies) to protect a new born baby which is essential during a pandemic.
There are many misconceptions around breastfeeding support and its importance to new families. These include an assumption that this support is adequately supplied by the NHS, or that breastfeeding either works, or it doesn't, so nothing can be done if families have difficulties. We provide trained, skilled, experienced lactation management support to families who often have no other means of support.
Who We Are:
Maddie’s Miracle is a small charity operating on a national level - this is why your support means so much to us and goes a long way. We support parents across the UK with tailored, one-to-one video sessions with a qualified Breastfeeding Counsellor. We provide education, guidance and counselling with the goal of supporting families to reach their breastfeeding goals and to avoid mental and physical suffering. Successful breastfeeding has a measurable beneficial effect on both mother and baby, and therefore has a positive impact on public health. The support we give makes a massive difference at what tends to be a vulnerable period in new parents' lives.
The charity was founded by mothers for mothers, in response to an overwhelming need from new mothers who were unsupported and 'fell through the gaps' of mainstream services.
The impact of Covid-19
During 2020 and the pandemic many breastfeeding groups and children's centres closed, leaving new mums without support. The provision for maternal support in England especially, has already been lacking for years, with many government funding cuts. New mums simply do not get the support that they need, leaving many desperate, isolated and feeling unsupported or 'lost'.
Please join us in creating a spectacular support service for parents and their babies.
Thank you for your donation.