In 1997 the WHO/UNICEF 18-hour lactation course, known as the Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI), was launched in the United Kingdom (UK). This course was designed to meet the training needs of National Health Service (NHS) trusts wishing to achieve the WHO/UNICEF baby friendly award. The first six of these courses, run by the University of Central Lancashire in conjunction with UNICEF UK BFI, were evaluated by questionnaire 6months following completion of the course, with both qualitative and quantitative data being collected. The findings showed that course members reported a sustained increase in knowledge, skills and positive attitudes concerning breast-feeding and that the course had increased confidence to actively support breast-feeding mothers and their infants.
Water-based exercise has been shown to be a ‘safe’ form of activity for women during pregnancy. This study investigates the level of involvement midwives have or would like to have in the provision of aquanatal classes. Postal questionnaires were used to investigate midwives' training for, and experience of running aquanatal exercise classes at four hospital sits in North West England. Of the 506 questionnaires distributed, 174 were returned. In answer to the question ‘who should run aquanatal classes?’, 94 midwives (54%) agreed that midwives were the ideal personnel to carry out aquanatal classes. However, only 41 midwives were involved in running aquanatal sessions and of those, just 25 had received any training. Of these, 15 felt that their training had been inadequate. It is recommended that a core group of exercise, midwifery and physiotherapy professionals should be responsible for agreeing a standard programme of education on aquanatal exercise for health professionals.
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