WAVENEY MP Bob Blizzard yesterday opened a new baby caf� as national breastfeeding awareness week got under way. Mr Blizzard cut the ribbon at the Butterflies Baby Caf� at the Beccles Children's Centre as NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney's breast-feeding team prepared to take to the roads to spread the message across the area.

WAVENEY MP Bob Blizzard opened a new baby caf� on Monday as National Breastfeeding Awareness Week got under way.

Mr Blizzard cut the ribbon at the Butterflies Baby Caf� at Beccles Children's Centre as NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney's breastfeeding team took to the road to spread the message.

This week the team was out and about in Yarmouth, Lowestoft and Halesworth, giving help, advice and support on breastfeeding from the comfort of an eye-catching yellow marquee.

The team also donned FC Barcelona shirts in recognition of the financial support the football club gives to children's charity Unicef.

The partnership between the two organisations began in 2006 when Barcelona announced it would donate at least 1.5m euros every year for five years to support programmes for children across the world.

Margaret Holtz, breastfeeding team lead with NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney, said: "We hope that holding these roadshows during National Breastfeeding Awareness Week will help raise awareness of

the health benefits which breastfeeding can bring to both mum and baby.

"Specially trained staff will

be on hand to give expert

advice to anyone who is already breastfeeding or is interested in doing so, and we'd encourage any new parents or parents-to-be to drop by and have a chat. Some people find it more difficult to breastfeed than they had imagined. We want to reassure them that we're here to help."

Research into the health benefits of choosing breast over formula milk shows that breastfed babies are less likely to become overweight or obese or suffer from allergies, infections, asthma and eczema.

Mothers who breastfeed are also less likely to get cancer or brittle bones later in life, and find it easier to return to their pre-pregnancy weight more quickly.

NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney's breastfeeding team will be holding a drop-in session at the Britten Centre, Lowestoft today from 11am-3pm.

Anyone who wants help or advice is welcome to drop into one of the events or can contact the breastfeeding team on 01493 852209.