A MOTHER is backing a campaign by neonatal staff to encourage women to feed their premature babies breast milk.

That was the pratice followed by Vicky McBride when her son, Ethan, was born at nearly 26 weeks.

As part of National Breastfeeding Week, this week, at The James Cook University Hospital, neonatal sister Caroline Buckley said: "Even if they aren't planning to breastfeed, we would ask mums to consider the option of expressing for a while, as breast milk can help to protect babies from illnesses to which premature babies are especially vulnerable."

Vicky has helped raise £1,400 for the hospital, part of which paid for an electronic breast pump.