Breast pump donation to Royal Oldham NICU helps support new mums

Babra Shaheen with Lydia Bowden, Consultant Neonatologist, Alison O’Doherty, Assistant Director of Nursing, Rosie Armstrong, Infant Feeding Support Worker and Holly Mitchell, Staff Nurse.

The fantastic fundraising efforts of an Oldham Council officer has helped to provide a new breast pump for mums in the Neonatal Unit at The Royal Oldham Hospital.

 Council Officer, Babra Shaheen began fundraising for the Neonatal Unit at the hospital with family and friends last year and raised an impressive £2,500, which has been used to buy a new breast pump.

Her fundraising efforts took place over 6 months and included numerous fundraising activities including raffles and car boot sales at Smithfield Market in Manchester.

The new pump has been a very welcome addition to the unit and now plays a vital role in helping new mums to provide breast milk for their babies, many of which have been born prematurely. 

Babra said: “I sadly lost my baby at 22 weeks and I wanted to do something in memory of my son that would also help other mums.

“The hospital were brilliant with me when I lost my son Ibrahim and that’s what made me want to fundraise for the unit.

“The staff really helped me and looked after me, and the doctors did everything possible to help. I hope that the breast pump can help support some of the families on the unit.”

The breast pump was gratefully received by Alison O’Doherty, Assistant Director of Nursing for Neonatal and Paediatrics, who said: “We can’t thank Babra enough for her fundraising efforts and donation.

“It will mean so much to the families on the unit.

“The new pump will help to support many of the families on the unit and will support our Family Integrated Care Programme, which encourages parents to become more involved with feeding and caring for their new baby.”