| | We're on the road at last!
'Milk float' cafe promotes breastfeeding
Oxford
Mail Article November 2007
By Victoria Owen
| Breastfeeding counsellors are celebrating the success of
their mobile baby cafe after the 200th mother and baby stepped inside. |
| Lucy Taylor, of Randolph Street, East Oxford, visited the 18-seater bus
- which is the UK's first - when it made a stop in nearby Cowley Road, to
get advice about nursing her three-week-old son William.
Although the new mum has been breastfeeding her son since he was born
at the John Radcliffe Hospital, weighing 6lb 13oz, she was finding it
difficult and needed help. Mrs Taylor, who is currently on maternity leave
from Oxfam's humanitarian department, said: "My health visitor told
me about the bus after I said I was struggling. They were very helpful and
I've found breastfeeding a lot better since then.
"Although it was difficult, I told myself to keep going until the
baby cafe stopped in Cowley Road. I would recommend it to other mothers,
and I'd go back again if I ever need more help." |
 |
| The mobile baby cafe, which has been dubbed the milk float,
started its engine in May, and visits Northway Tower, Marston, on Mondays,
Donnington Doorstep Family Centre on Tuesdays, and Cutteslowe Community
Centre on Fridays.
The city also plays host to static baby cafes in Rose Hill, Headington
and Blackbird Leys.
Mothers can visit any of the cafes to meet with other mums and get
advice from health visitors, midwives and breastfeeding experts.
Counsellor and project leader Julie Osborne said: "We're looking
at locations to stop the bus next year and want to be where it will be
used to capacity, so we want to be where there's a lot of hustle and
bustle, which is why we went to Cowley Road.
"It was very successful and we certainly might be including it in
our plans for 2008. It's wonderful to know that we've had 200 visits since
launching the mobile baby cafe. It's exciting to know we're growing in
popularity, and that word is spreading about us." |
Pictures from the Oxford Baby Café Bus Launch in May 2007
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