Breastfeeding mothers across Hertfordshire will be given more support following a national assessment.

Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust's health visiting service and the county council’s children centres are celebrating after passing stage two of the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative Accreditation.

The programme is designed to provide parents with information on building close relationships with their baby.

It helps parents make informed decisions about feeding their child and provides supports to those who choose to breastfeed.

Georgina Berg, infant feeding coordinator at Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust, said: “We are delighted to have passed stage two of the initiative. Staff demonstrated excellent knowledge and skills in infant feeding, supporting breastfeeding mothers and strengthening relationships between mothers, babies and their families.

“The health visiting service is working towards full accreditation and is committed to supporting breastfeeding and providing high quality advice, information and support to ensure the best start in life for babies and their parents.”

The accreditation shows that staff working in Hertfordshire’s children centres and the health visiting service, have been trained to support breastfeeding mothers while also providing mothers who have chosen to bottle feed with advice on how to do it safely.

Cllr Teresa Heritage, Hertfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for public health, said: “We know that many mums want to breastfeed but often give up when things aren’t going to plan.

“It is such a positive step that as well as health visitors, mothers can now speak with well-informed staff in all Hertfordshire children’s centres in those early days, safe in the knowledge that their training has met the nationally recognised UNICEF UK Baby Friendly standards.”