Midwives in Jersey are running advice sessions today for new families looking for advice in their breastfeeding journey.

Today, 1 August, current and prospective parents are being invited to two events offering information and support on breastfeeding.

The first drop-in is at The Boundary in St Saviour between 09:00am - 12:00pm.

An afternoon session is also running from 02:30pm - 05:00pm at The Portelet Inn in St Brelade. 

The Island's Breastfeeding Specialist Health Visitor and Infant Feeding Specialist Midwife will be on hand to answer any questions mums and dads may have. 

Breastfeeding and Infant Feeding Specialists Debra (left) and Debbie (right)

Midwife Debbie McCoy tells us she's here for all parents who might just need a little helping hand:

"Breastfeeding is not always easy for a lot of people and a lot of people really do struggle.

"Parents struggle with lack of sleep, babies have no concept of night and day and we wouldn't expect them to.

"But its about how we support parents on this early journey with breastfeeding to help them overcome these early hurdles.

"Once parents get over this initial start of the breastfeeding, they tend to be okay."

Howard Davis Park - the new community breastfeeding hotspot?

A breastfeeding picnic is also being organised on Saturday 3 August at Howard Davis Park, between 11:00am - 01:30pm.

This is for families looking for a safe, community space to breastfeed and meet other parents in the similar positions.

Infant Feeding Specialist Midwife Debbie will also be on hand to give advice to mums and dads looking for support. 

She says this event is also about normalising breastfeeding:

"It's a wonderful community event to bring families together in a lovely open space, to just bring a picnic, sit on the ground, breastfeed in a public area.

"There is so much, even now, stigma about breastfeeding in public.

"Breastfeeding is not against the law, it is not against the law to breastfeed in a public place - we want to encourage this."