Knitted Breasts to Help New Mums!
UK Hospital has a Novel use of Knitting Plus Link to Free Pattern
A UK hospital is using hand knitted breasts to help teach young mums about breast feeding. This is an interesting way that knitters can knit for a good cause.
Hand knitted breasts helps new mothers!
There are many interesting ways that knitting can be used for a greater good! We are all aware of the opportunities for knitting squares for afghans, or other ways we can use our knitting skills to support charities or other good causes, however how about knitting a breast?
This might sound like one of those ‘life is stranger than fiction’ pieces, however let me explain…
In a recent news item from the UK, it was reported by the BBC that a hospital was looking for volunteers to knit fake breasts for use in their maternity section. The Liverpool Women’s Hospital shows young mums how to breastfeed, and this includes how to express milk. Fake breasts are used for this training. The hospital currently uses latex model breasts as teaching aids, however the cost of these can be quite prohibitive. The hospital's infant feeding co-ordinator, Kate McFadden, had the idea of knitting breasts to be used for demonstration and sourced the pattern from the LCGB (Lactation Consultants of Great Britain). Kate McFadden has knitted a few herself, however needed more knitters to help her and the story appeared on the local BBC news. The original story can be read online.
The story soon became international news and the hospital says the response has been ‘amazing’. The breasts are being knitted in a variety of skin shades and are now being used by community midwives. The hospital received offers of help from knitters in many countries, including the US. There were many requests for the pattern by volunteer knitters worldwide.
Free Pattern
The pattern to knit the breast is available free as a pdf file on the LCGB (Lactation Consultants of Great Britain) website and is an interesting way to knit up those odds and ends of yarn. The pattern is available to download. The pattern uses 3.25mm needles, which correlates to a US size 3. The pattern shown has been worked flat, however it would not be difficult to work ‘in the round’
It is certain that the Liverpool Women’s Hospital is not alone in their use of knitted breasts to help teach new mums and this could be a great way to make something a little different for a good cause, helping others.
Further Reading
There are many other interesting ways of knitting for charities and other good causes. The Suite101 article mentions a few and the internet provides a wealth of information about good causes and charities which are looking for knitters and knitted items.
For information about pregnancy and childbirth, including a discussion forum, visit the Pregnancy and Childbirth site here at Suite101.
