Jolene pointed us to this BBC news story of the Liverpool Women's Hospital and how knitted breasts are being used. The knitted breats are a cheaper alternative to show new mothers how to breast feed and how to express milk, as well as teaching tools by community midwife teams. From the site, "[Kate Mc Fadden, the hospital's infant feeding co-ordinater ] said: 'You can buy model breasts, but they cost around £35 each, which is quite prohibitive, as we need about 50.' Although community groups, including the official friends of the hospital association, have pitched in, more knitters are needed." No contact info was included in the article, but you'd like to help out by knitting breasts, try to contact the hospital via their website. Link.
This reminds me of an acquaintance whose wife had a mastectomy; she was an avid knitter and, instead of spending a great deal of money on a prosthetic, she crocheted a breast suitable for each of her bras.
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The free pattern for these is at the Knitty, a fabulous free knitting magazine. http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall05/PATTbits.html
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Wow! You guys are fast! By the time I got home from work, you at Craft acted on my suggestion!Personally, I'm not a knitter, I'm a crochet-er, but I'm going to put my needle to work and crochet a pair of boobies!
I wonder if hospitals in the US can use them as well? Any health care pros have ideas/contacts? Any other countries? I'd nursed my daughter and can't recommend it highly enough.
I can't believe it! I'm part of the Knitty Bitty Titty Committee!
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