09:00 - 02 November 2006
A new support group for breast feeding mums has been launched in Portreath.Little Engines is the brainchild of mum-of-two Katie Fulcher, who raised almost £3,000 to get the group off the ground.
She said: "While breast feeding my son at SureStart Trevu, I decided to become a breast feeding peer supporter - that's a volunteer who gives breast feeding advice to other mums.
"After about eight months I thought it would be a good idea to offer the same sort of support to mums living in my own village - Portreath."
Katie began fund raising and received £250 from Portreath Improvements Committee, £400 from Awards for All and £2,500 from Network Funding.
The group meets every Monday - during term-time - from 9.30am-11am in St Mary's Church Hall. The inaugural meeting was opened by Lady Terrye Teverson, who is the patron of Breast Friends in Camborne.
"Little Engines is not just a breast feeding group," said Katie, "It's also a baby group. We offer a baby weighing facility, breast feeding support, advice from qualified health professionals, and a monthly visit from a health visitor."
Treloweth Children's Centre has also donated a year's supply of refreshments. Although only a handful of mums attended the first meeting, Katie is confident the group will grow.
She said: "It's going to snowball. We've just had four deliveries in the village and there are another three on the way that I know of. Plus we will get some mums from other villages like Porthtowan and Illogan."
