A support group to help mothers and babies get to grips with breast-feeding is to be launched in Mid Devon during Breast-feeding Awareness Week, starting on Monday (May 14). The weekly drop-in group, which gets underway in Hatherleigh on the Tuesday, will give new mothers an opportunity to talk about their own experiences and to support each other. Trained midwives and health visitors will be on hand to assist with technicalities. Health visitor Angela Dawe said: 'We will be giving away books and videos about how to breast-feed, as well as loaning mums support cushions and electric breast pumps used to express milk — very useful if you need to go out without your baby.' Advice from the Department of Health encourages new mothers to breast-feed exclusively for the first six months of their baby's life. For most babies, only breast milk is needed, which provides adequate nutrition and resistance against infection. Angela said: 'Most people know that breast milk is the perfect food for a baby and provides everything a baby needs during the first six months of life. But fewer people know that it helps mothers too. 'There is a lower risk of breast and ovarian cancers, and a reduction in osteoporosis later in life, in women who have breast-fed.' The Hatherleigh group will run every Tuesday from May 15 onwards, 2pm to 4pm, at Hatherleigh Children's Centre, based at the community centre. Anyone wishing to attend can either turn up on the day, or call Jenny MacKenzie on 01837 811190.