A SOUTH Cumbria breastfeeding support group has announced the winners of this year's Breast Friend Award.

This year the award goes to Clinical support worker, Kathy Kennedy and Midwife, Rachel Pearce.

Each year South Cumbria Breastfeeding Support (SCBS) makes an award each year to a local NHS Health Professional.

The Breast Friend Award acknowledges the vital role NHS staff play in families’ breastfeeding journeys, and thanks to them for their help and support. Families nominate Health Professionals whom they feel have made a significant positive difference to their breastfeeding experience.

Families are asked to nominate Health Professionals whom they feel have made a significant positive difference to their breastfeeding experience.

This year as the NHS faces immense pressure the panel wanted to recognise two people. Kath Kennedy received lots if nominations from families she has supported.

One nomination said: "It was such a challenge feeding my baby and I often felt like giving up. But with Kath's encouragement and advice, I was able to continue and I never felt pressured, she just knew how much I wanted to breastfeed. "She gave lots of tips. She gave me her time.

"She was the turning point for my breastfeeding struggles. Kath showed me different positions to try."

The other big winner was midwife, Rachel Pearce. Her nomination said: "One evening I found it so painful I sent my husband out to buy bottles and formula as I had had enough. I texted Rachel in the last attempt to continue my breastfeeding journey and she came and did a home visit the very next day to help me.

I am now two months into exclusively breastfeeding my son and I love it. Without my midwife, I would have given up that night."

The Breast Friend Panel felt that the nominations showed the potential positive impact of a single meeting.

Each year's winners of the Breast Friend Award go on to represent the wider community of Health Professionals, the South Cumbria Breastfeeding Support said: "We would like to congratulate Kath Kennedy and Rachel Pearce on being given this year’s Breast Friend Award."