World Menopause Day is held annually on 18th October as part of Menopause Awareness Month. This global initiative raises awareness of menopause symptoms, tackles stigma, and promotes support for improving health and wellbeing during this life transition. Recognising this day fosters understanding and empowers individuals to seek the help they need.

The theme for World Menopause Day 2024 is Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT), also known as Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) in the UK. The International Menopause Society (IMS) aims to provide clarity on MHT, covering its benefits, risks, and prescribing practices. By doing so, they hope to inform and empower individuals navigating menopause.

Why Do We Celebrate World Menopause Day?

Understanding Menopause and Raising Awareness

World Menopause Day, established in 2009 by the International Menopause Society (IMS) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), emphasises the need to understand menopause and its physical and mental impacts. It promotes open conversations, helping to remove taboos and encourage individuals to access appropriate support.

Breaking the Stigma Around Menopause

Menopause is a natural phase that signals the end of reproductive years, often accompanied by significant changes to physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Despite this, it remains a topic many find difficult to discuss. Recognising World Menopause Day allows us to normalise these conversations and ensure that individuals feel seen, heard, and supported.

Key Objectives of World Menopause Day:

For people with female reproductive systems, menopause is inevitable. However, it’s not always fully understood what exactly menopause entails. This means many women may experience symptoms they don’t know are menopause related, preventing them from accessing the right treatment or support and increasing the risk of long term consequences of the menopause, such as cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. World Menopause Day, and Menopause Awareness Month, is an opportunity to provide much needed education to promote a better understanding of the symptoms and what treatments are available. 

• Improve workplace policies: Many workplaces lack menopause support. Inclusive policies—such as flexible working hours and temperature control—help individuals navigate menopause without compromising their careers.
• Increase awareness of menopause: Menopause can have profound effects on daily life. Symptoms such as hot flushes, mood swings, and sleep disturbances can be severe. Raising awareness ensures individuals know they are not alone and can seek help when needed.
• Educate the public: Many people do not fully understand menopause. This lack of knowledge prevents individuals from recognising symptoms or accessing the right support. World Menopause Day provides an opportunity to promote education and reduce health risks like cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.
• Promote menopause support: In many countries the world over, awareness and access to menopause services is a significant challenge, leaving a lot of people to suffer in silence. Not all health care providers are trained in recognising perimenopausal or postmenopausal symptoms, and health policies and funding for menopause treatment can be lacking. World Menopause Day aims to shed more light on menopause support so the right treatments can be accessed at the right time. 

Common Symptoms of Menopause

Recognising Symptoms and Seeking Support

Approximately 85% of women experience menopause symptoms, ranging from mild to severe. These typically begin during perimenopause, the stage before menstruation ends completely. Understanding these symptoms can help individuals seek timely support.

Being aware of what to expect and recognising the signs can help women address them effectively with the right support.

Key Symptoms Include:

Menopause in the UK: Facts and Stats

In the UK, there are 13 million women currently either peri or postmenopausal. This is a third of the entire UK female population.

It’s reported 33% suffer from anxiety or depression due to this significant life change, but it’s likely many are trying to navigate menopause on their own. This is why World Menopause Day is a crucial date in our national calendar, so we can change the narrative and create a supportive, inclusive society for those going through menopause. 

• The average age for a woman in the UK to reach menopause is 51.
• Approximately 1 in 100 people reach menopause before the age of 40, known as premature menopause or premature ovarian insufficiency.
• 25% of people are said to experience debilitating symptoms.
• 8 out 10 menopausal people are in work, yet only 25-26% of workplaces offer menopause support such as flexible working, home working, or temperature control. 
• 3 out of 5 women aged 45-55 said menopause symptoms had a negative affect on their work.
• 3.5 million people have considered quitting their job over menopause and menstrual health symptoms. 
• By 2030, the world population of menopausal and postmenopausal women is projected to increase to 1.2 billion.

Menopause isn’t going to go away. It’s a natural, biological process for those with female reproductive systems that can be life changing and debilitating. Raising awareness on World Menopause Day is the first step in better understanding how to provide support and ensure people don’t suffer alone. 

The Impact of Menopause on Relationships and Careers

Supporting Personal Relationships

The physical, psychological and cognitive changes brought on by menopause can significantly impact a person’s personal relationships and professional life. It’s important women have a supportive network to help them navigate this phase with more ease and confidence.

Personal relationships can suffer in a number of ways. Hormonal imbalances can cause mood swings and emotional dysregulation, putting a strain on romantic partnerships. Partners may also feel confused or helpless, not knowing how best to support their loved one. Intimacy issues can also arise due to vaginal dryness and pain during sex, or a decreased libido.

Those going through menopause are experiencing significant physical and mental changes that take a toll on all aspects of their life. They need an empathetic and supportive partner now more than ever. Taking the time to understand menopause and what it does to a person’s mind and body, as well as honest communication, is key to maintaining healthy relationships during this period of change.

Creating Inclusive Workplaces

Menopause also has a profound impact on the workplace, which not only affects a woman’s performance and job satisfaction, but it could also lead to financial issues. It’s estimated that 6 million women in the UK are currently experiencing menopause symptoms while employed, but 14% move onto part-time hours, while 10% quit their job entirely. This impacts their income, their lifestyle, and could potentially be detrimental to their families. 

However, it’s not hard to see why so many people struggle to maintain their professional career while going through menopause. Hot flashes, night sweats, disruptive sleep patterns and poor mental health can make it extremely difficult to be productive and focus at work. Studies have shown that irritability and mood swings were found to have the worst impact on job performance in older female employees. 

This, combined with the fact so many organisations don’t have menopause support policies in place, means these challenges are often exacerbated, leading to increased stress and anxiety.

35% of those going through menopause will take time off due to their symptoms, and 17% feel menopause negatively impacts their career progression opportunities. It’s crucial for employers to create a supportive, compassionate environment at work, enabling employees to thrive while also boosting productivity, reducing absence rates, and retaining talent.

Implementing menopause support policies such as flexible working, working from home, temperature control, and providing training to managers, can allow women to work through their menopause without sacrificing their career.

8 Ways to Support Someone Going Through Menopause

Dealing with all the changes of menopause can be difficult and confusing, leaving many women feeling lonely and misunderstood. Empathy, understanding, and practical assistance are key to supporting a loved one or colleague going through menopause. Here are seven ways to provide that support on World Menopause Day and beyond.

1. Have open conversations

If you’re going through menopause, don’t be afraid to reach out to a loved one, colleague, or health care practitioner. The more people are aware, the more they can help. If you know someone going through menopause, let them know you’re there for them if they want to talk. Sometimes, just having an ear to listen or a shoulder to cry on can make all the difference and relieve them of their emotional weight.

2. Get educated

Learn more about the science behind menopause, the symptoms, and how it affects a person’s life. Understanding someone else’s lived experience can help you provide more effective support that’s specific to them. You don’t need to be an expert, but knowledge is power in these situations. 

3. Suggest professional help

Consulting a healthcare professional to discuss symptoms could lead to exploring different treatment options. This could be HRT, lifestyle changes, or seeking out therapy such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)  to talk through their struggles with mental health. 

4. Encourage healthy choices

Leading an active, healthy life can help alleviate some menopause symptoms. This involves a healthy diet, regular exercise, cutting down on alcohol, and quitting smoking. Encourage your loved one to go on regular, weekly walks, or start a new class together such as yoga or swimming. If the way you socialise normally involves the pub, you could swap this out for cooking healthy meals together instead. 

5. Improve the workplace environment

If you’re an employer or manager, you should look at offering adjustments in the workplace that’ll make menopausal people more comfortable. This includes temperature control, providing fans, and offering a relaxing space to retreat to if they’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed. Companies could also host a Menopause Cafe during World Menopause Day to invite colleagues to share their experiences and create an inclusive workplace that’s free of judgement. 

6. Be patient and understanding 

Menopause is a challenging time, both physically and emotionally. Symptoms are wide and varied, with over 30 recognised menopause symptoms. If your partner, friend, or colleague is going through menopause, try not to minimise their experiences or offer unsolicited advice. Patience and understanding will go a long way.

7. Be open about sexual wellbeing

It can be a taboo subject, but menopause can have a detrimental effect on a person’s sex life. Vaginal dryness and discomfort during intercourse, a reduced sex drive, and fatigue due to night sweats and sleep issues can make intimacy a challenge. Signpost your partner to treatment options or over-the-counter lubricants to help make sex more enjoyable, or openly talk to them about their feelings and other ways to seek pleasure. Make sure to not pressure them into anything they don’t want to do, and show your love by comforting them and being there for them in their times of need.

8. Offer practical help

Menopause symptoms can make daily activities overwhelming, so help them stay on top of their responsibilities by offering practical support. This could be running errands, cooking meals, or just keeping them company during stressful moments.  

Menopause Resources

• International Menopause Society (IMS) works globally to promote and support access to best practice health care for women through their menopause.

• The Menopause Charity is dedicated to raising awareness of menopause and offers lots of education, support, and advice surrounding menopause.

• Menopause Support UK not for profit community providing resources, support, and advice about menopause.

• The British Menopause Society (BMS) is the specialist authority for menopause and post reproductive health in the UK, providing resources, publications and the latest menopause news. 

• The NHS has menopause information and advice. Some NHS Trusts and private sector companies will offer digital health solutions for menopause, such as Anya. We provide personalised support and easy access to experts to help people going through menopause feel supported 24/7. 

By continuing to talk about menopause, we create a world where everyone feels supported during this significant life transition. World Menopause Day reminds us of the importance of understanding menopause and ensuring no one faces it alone. Discover how Anya offers 24/7 personalised support to help individuals navigate menopause with confidence.

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As the clock ticked away, Andy delved into the day’s agenda, absorbing every detail and opportunity that Google had laid out for Anya. The first item on the list was a programme introduction and overview hosted by the Google for Startups Team, led by the dynamic duo of Magdalena Przelaskowska and Noam Feinstein. Andy found himself in a room filled with fellow innovators and entrepreneurs, all with aspirations as high as the Shard. 

The session was an immersive experience, exploring Google’s commitment to supporting startups in their journey towards excellence. As Andy listened attentively, he couldn’t help but feel the weight of the moment – the doors to a world of possibilities were swinging open, and Anya was about to take its next big leap! 

A Journey Through Knowledge: Insights from Google Experts 

The next sessions promised to be nothing short of enlightening as Susan Thomas, the Director of Google Health UK, took the stage to reveal the story of “Google in health: the story so far.” Her insights into the intersection of technology and healthcare left Andy and Dr. Chen Mao Davies with a sense of awe. 

Next up was James Matthews, Head of Revenue Strategy for Google Cloud EMEA, shedding light on “Growth in the AI Age.” His presentation was like a roadmap for Anya’s future, navigating the complexities of artificial intelligence and cloud technology with finesse. As the session concluded, we couldn’t help but feel invigorated by the immense possibilities that lay ahead. 

Nourishing Connections: Lunch and Networking 

 
With brains buzzing from the morning’s insights, Andy joined his fellow startups for a delightful lunch and networking session. It was here that Andy had the chance to connect with like-minded innovators, share ideas, and forge valuable partnerships. The synergy in the room was palpable, and Anya was finding its place in a community of trailblazers. 

Unlocking Potential: Afternoon Workshops 

With Dr. Chen Mao Davies now back from her compelling presentation, she joined Developer Andy to soak in the wealth of knowledge Google had to offer. 

The day continued with a series of workshops designed to hone the skills of future leaders. First up was a Leadership Workshop led by Greg Albrecht, an Executive Coach. His wisdom and guidance were invaluable, helping the group to sharpen their leadership skills, setting the stage for Anya’s growth. 

A Grand Welcome: Evening Reception 

Following on from the Leadership workshop, as the sun dipped below the London skyline, the formal welcome reception commenced, and Chen and Andy were joined by Anya’s wonderfully supportive Chairman, Dan Cobley. A true highlight of the day as everyone seemed to know Dan! 

Prof. Yossi Matias, VP Health AI Global Lead at Google, and Sofia Benjumea, Head of Google For Startups EMEA, warmly welcomed Andy, Dan, Chen, and the other 29 chosen organisations into the Google for Startups Growth Academy: AI for Health. 

The reception was graced by the presence of the UK Minister for AI and Intellectual Property, Mr. Viscount Camrose, who extended his support for Anya’s mission to transform healthcare.

A Q&A session with Colin Murdoch, Chief Business Officer of Google DeepMind, offered unique insights into the future of artificial intelligence and its impact on society. 

The Unexpected Turn: A Surprise Awaits 

As the day ended, the team received a gentle reminder not to be late for the bus…  

It had been an extraordinary day filled with learning, inspiration, and connections that would undoubtedly shape the future of Anya. As the sun dipped below London’s iconic skyline, the team’s anticipation was met with a delightful twist.  

Instead of heading back to the hotel, Andy bid farewell, and Laura Bravo Priegue, Anya’s talented AI Developer, joined Dr. Chen Mao Davies for an unforgettable evening masterminded by the Google For Startups team. 

A big red London Tour bus awaited them, ready to whisk them away on an enchanting tour of London’s landmarks from Big Ben to Trafalgar Square and China Town. The journey took an unexpected turn onto the bustling streets of Tottenham Court Road, where they arrived at Tutan, an ultra-posh Chinese fusion restaurant renowned for its inventive cocktails. 

Stay tuned for our next Google For Start Ups, Growth Academy: AI for Health venture – coming soon!

In the meantime, check out our recent article on Anya’s collaborative Human and AI approach.

The post A Day at Google: Supercharging Anya’s Growth in AI for Health with Expertise and Innovation  appeared first on Meet Anya..

Read the full article below.

The Healthcare Excellence Through Technology (HETT) Show, held at ExCel London on 26-27^th September 2023, proved to be an exceptional platform for healthcare innovators, including Anya. Although we didn’t have a dedicated stand at the event, our presence was profoundly felt, thanks to our CEO and Founder, Dr. Chen Mao Davies, who delivered an enlightening talk on “The role of humans in Anya’s AI experience.” This presentation was part of a broader discussion titled “How AI Augmented Technology Transforms Healthcare Access,” alongside esteemed organisations Feebris and Limbic. 

The HETT Show 2023 brought together leaders and visionaries from the healthcare and technology sectors, providing a stage to showcase groundbreaking solutions that have the potential to revolutionise patient care. Anya was honoured to contribute to this transformative dialogue. 

Dr. Chen Mao Davies on the Human Element in AI 

Dr. Chen Mao Davies’s presentation delved into the intricate interplay between human involvement and artificial intelligence within the context of Anya’s innovative healthcare solutions. She explored the pivotal role of human input in training and fine-tuning AI algorithms to ensure they align with patient needs, clinical expertise, and ethical standards. Her insightful talk underscored the significance of maintaining a human touch while harnessing the power of AI in healthcare, resonating with healthcare professionals and technology enthusiasts in the audience. 

Didn’t make it to Dr Chen Mao Davies’ talk?

Not to worry, you can read about our human specialists involvement with AI here.

Collaboration with NHS Innovation Accelerator 

Dr Chen Mao Davies and the team at Anya are immensely grateful for the opportunity sponsored by the NHS Innovation Accelerator, which enabled Dr. Chen Mao Davies to participate in the event. The NHS Innovation Accelerator stand served as a vital platform for our organisation to engage with healthcare experts, share our vision, and highlight the potential of our empathetic AI technology in improving patient care through technology and innovation!

Konrad Dobschuetz, National Director of the NHS Innovation Accelerator expressed his gratitude:

“Thank you, Dr. Chen Mao Davies, for joining us at the HETT Show 2023. Your insights on ‘The Role Of Humans in Anya’s AI Experience’ with an audience of 200 was phenomenal. Together with Limbic and Feebris, your presentation on ‘How AI Augmented Technology Transforms Healthcare Access’ will shape the future vision of AI in healthcare. Your presence not only enriches HETT but also sets an inspiring example for our new cohort of the fellowship as we welcome innovative organisations to the NHS Innovation Accelerator. You’re a valuable role model for those embarking on this journey of healthcare innovation.”

Anna King’s Recognition of Anya’s Contribution 

Another moment of pride for Anya at the HETT Show 2023 was when Anna King, Commercial Director at Health Innovation Network, delivered her talk on “FemTech and Women’s Health – Pioneering Digital Support in the NHS”. During her presentation, Anna King was asked to provide examples of exemplary organisations driving FemTech innovation, and Anya emerged as her shining example. The recognition was a testament to our outstanding contributions to breastfeeding support, maternity care through empathetic AI technology. 

Anya’s Commitment to Transforming Healthcare 

At Anya, we remain dedicated to pushing the boundaries of healthcare technology. Our presence at the HETT Show 2023 reaffirmed our commitment to bridging the gap between cutting-edge AI solutions and compassionate patient care. We are immensely grateful for the opportunities to collaborate, learn, and share our vision with the healthcare community. Also to see lovely faces that we haven’t seen for a while!

As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, Anya stands at the forefront of innovation, leveraging the power of AI to enhance the patient experience, improve clinical outcomes, and drive positive change in patient care. Our participation in the HETT Show 2023 was a resounding success, and we look forward to continuing our journey toward a future where healthcare excellence is truly driven through technology and empathy.

Next, we’re off to Google for Startup’s Growth Academy: AI for Health, to accelerate our growth! You can read about our next venture here.  

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Written by Harriet Shuttleworth.

We are excited to share that Shel Banks, Anya’s Clinical Director, IBCLC Infant Feeding Specialist, and NHS Infant Feeding Lead, has been featured in the The Association of Breastfeeding Mothers’ summer edition magazine!

Our team, Shel Banks and Hannah Cresswell, two valued clinical members of our team at Anya, presented an insightful talk to the audience at The Association of Breastfeeding Mothers Conference in June 2023. The topic was ‘Shifting Perspectives and Navigating the Future of Breastfeeding’. Following which Shel was interviewed for the magazine. Shel’s article discussing the power of 24/7 online support is now published, and available for you to read below.

We are truly privileged to collaborate with Shel Banks, who brings with her an exceptional level of expertise and a renowned reputation in the industry.

Read the article below:

If you’d like to know more about Anya, feel free to get in touch via our contact page.

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by Shel Banks IBCLC Infant feeding Specialist, Clinical Director – Anya

Helping parents think about infant feeding in pregnancy can be a challenge as they often cannot focus further than the birth. In this article Shel Banks, IBCLC Infant feeding Specialist, explains the Anya App, of which she is Director, and LatchAid as sources to help support new parents over the first 1000 days.

It is widely known that antenatal communication of valuable infant feeding messages and facilitating fully informed infant feeding choices antenatally can be really difficult. Those of you working directly with families know that it is tricky to get those points across to people in the time allowed.

The reality, as we know, is that first-time expectant parents often aren’t even thinking about preparing themselves for the postnatal period – they are generally focussed on the pregnancy, the labour and birth, and maybe the first few days afterwards. Second time around they are often more determined to be well informed and for ‘things to be different this time’. It may feel as if you are fighting fires with families, rather than being able to fully prepare them for feeding their babies, only to see more infant feeding problems arise later in their journey – and of course, we also often say that prevention is better than cure.

In the 22^nd March edition of the Maternity & Midwifery Hour, Shel Banks IBCLC Infant Feeding Specialist will be chatting through the current infant feeding support landscape and providing us with 5 easy wins for frontline staff to get antenatal feeding information to ‘land’.

Shel has 13 years of NHS experience as an Infant Feeding Lead, running BFI accreditation programmes across Maternity, Neonatal and Health Visiting. In 2018 a chance meeting with Dr. Chen Mao Davies, attending the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers Conference with her daughter, led to the development of the unique 3D breastfeeding animation tool LatchAid – still a central part of the Anya app, a parenting and feeding digital support tool. Now we have added lots of additional features covering the 1000 days from conception to the child’s second birthday and been officially launched to families for over 18 months; we have rebranded to Anya in line with our expanded content.

Anya has secured public funding to develop the tool into an innovative, empathetic and credible resource for parents and have been working with several NHS trusts to pilot and now roll out our services. Anya is here to support them for 1,000 days – to give their child the best start in life.

This year we were asked to work with the NHS-backed Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) Healthcare to investigate how our app could reduce health inequalities in maternity and infant care. We realised very quickly that we had to act antenatally and provide credible information, signposting and support at a time when attention is more easily caught. We have developed a tailored antenatal programme in the app which is accessible and inclusive, and serves the information in digestible pieces related to their age and stage. Feedback from healthcare professionals has been superb, so now we are developing FAQs and personalised content especially for healthcare professional continuing professional development (CPD).

Healthcare systems around the world – and perhaps especially in the UK – have a resource problem when it comes to new parents. It is the most medically risky and time-critical phase of a new mother’s life; so how to give the right support at the right time, and delivered efficiently and effectively? This is where Anya comes in; to be there when healthcare professionals can’t be. No other pregnancy and baby app is like Anya; with our 24/7 sentient AI-powered virtual supporter to answer questions and signpost resources, and the unique LatchAid 3D animated breastfeeding tool, delivering evidence-based information and support. All backed up by human specialists on-call and credible articles, videos and webinars.

“A huge part of our workload at the birth centre is answering questions on the phone, whilst also coping with full ward attendee appointments.

If some of these questions can be answered (by Anya) then this reduces the pressure on our workload.

It’s so, so great to have a quality resource for professionals to direct families to.”

We couldn’t have put it better ourselves.

Join us for the Maternity & Midwifery Hour on Wednesday 22^nd March at 7pm (or register to watch back later) to find out more about the evidence base around communicating with parents and to pick up Shel’s 5 easy wins for effectively getting the messages across.

>>> REGISTER FREE NOW

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Our team has really got behind this year’s UN Women’s theme of #DigitALL, opening up access to technology and support to women around the world. What have we been up to?

First to our client partner ClearScore’s internal IWD23 virtual meetup with partners around the world where Dr. Chen talked about her journey and why Anya by LatchAid is so important as a tool for public health and expectant and new parents. Sofie Miah, People Partner at ClearScore, commented, “Chen has just finished her talk, which was amazingly received and incredibly inspiring!“.

Then hotfoot across London to The Conduit for the Athena40 IWD23 global event with attendees joining from around the world. Chen was part of a panel discussing innovation, tech and education as significant factors for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. Athena40 connected live women thinkers from the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia to discuss how we can promote and enable women’s inclusion in the digital era, and how across the different countries we can capitalize on the development of new technologies and the opportunities these offer to achieve full and equal access for women, putting an end to the gender digital divide.​

The London panel at the Conduit Club also featured: Elizabeth H. Filippouli, Author and Founder of Athena40, Paola Diana, Author and Founder & CEO of Artemide Recruitment, Nimco Ali OBE, CEO of the Five Foundation, Sonal R. Patel, Partner & Executive Producer of the Brunswick Group and Liz Perkins, Night News Editor of the Daily Express.

Back to Bristol for the quarterly Innovate UK SW IRIS group meeting to inspire the next group of women entrepreneurs and developers, talking on a panel about the challenges and opportunities of scaling companies in the South West and Wales.

And so to Thursday, we were invited to attend the #IntegratingInnovation event with West of England AHSN and a roomful of NHS partners and suppliers, showcasing the innovations scaling up right now to support NHS commissioners and service users in providing a top-notch healthcare service. We sat underneath the Concorde nosecone at Aerospace Bristol and spent few happy hours listening to esteemed speakers including David Olusoga OBE and planning further innovation integration for Anya (watch this space!).

Chen spoke on the “Tackling health inequalities: a community involvement approach” panel discussion chaired by Abbey Mulla from NHS England South West. Also on the panel with her were: Aisha Thomas from Representation Matters, Jane Moore from BSW ICB, Julie Davidson from Pier Health Group and Vicci Livingstone-Thompson from Inclusion Gloucestershire. It was incredibly interesting and also humbling to hear the wide variety of engagement projects across the region that are making a difference to people’s lives and working to minimise health inequality.

You can watch Chen in action here:

https://youtu.be/yfEYDVQ9Jso

Click here to arrange a personalised demo of the Anya app and #AskAnya yourself!

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Join us at the Maternity & Midwifery Hour online on Wednesday 22nd March.

*If you’re on your shift then, don’t worry, you can watch it back via the Maternity & Midwifery Forum newsletter or on their YouTube channel the week after!

How do you make the antenatal infant feeding and relationship building information that you know you need to share, really be heard and understood by the parents you are working with, in the short time you have available?

Renowned Infant Feeding Specialist and NHS Baby Friendly Initiative lead Shel Banks knows how tricky it is to deliver this key information alongside with everything else you need to do in your allotted time with parents-to-be.

As well as a Q&A we’ll be presenting 2x 15-minute sessions:

Session 1 – What we know and understand about the issues of getting antenatal feeding information across to expectant parents

The latest evidence base, including recent breastfeeding research from The Lancet, shows the reality of breastfeeding initiation and continuation rates globally. The report recommendations highlighted the changes we can work towards to embed information around choices for infant feeding with new parents.

At Anya, we understand the evidence base, we understand the requirements of Baby Friendly accreditation and we understand the challenges of communicating the right messages in the time available: we know staff are spread thin in terms of time and resource management. 

We recognise that as healthcare professionals, you often have too many things to do in not enough time, and with not enough staff. We also recognise that the traditional ways of reaching people don’t work for everyone – and might not impact on the individual family in front of you.

Session 2: What can we do to facilitate fully informed choices around infant feeding and relationship building, for all the families in our care? We will share our top tips on how to get this information across in an inclusive and meaningful way, without negatively impacting your workload.

This session will include our top tips to be smart, use time and resources wisely, get the important infant feeding and relationship building messages across AND make a big difference to the experience of your local families as well as improvements to wider public health outcomes.

How can the Anya app help? As an evidence-based digital solution already in use in the NHS with monitored outcomes, we’ve got some excellent ideas along with a suite of evidence-based resources in different formats, suitable for different learning styles. Our app, containing the unique interactive 3D breastfeeding animation tool LatchAid^TM, has already demonstrated improved breastfeeding initiation and continuation rates – and we can show you how it works.

We’re also working with government-funded SBRI Healthcare to research how our digital solution can improve access to support and reduce health inequalities in maternity care. This has seen us broaden our antenatal information in accessible, plain English formats, increase our inclusion of black women, young parents and low-income families, and develop new features to deliver continuity to our users.

Join us, and together we can help make antenatal feeding information land in the right way, at the right time.

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