The use of art methods can help to stimulate public engagement. Becky Penfold, student midwife at Liverpool John Moores university, shares experience of an arts-based project promoting breastfeeding.
Does art have a role in public health provision?
As a student midwife passionate about increasing awareness of breastfeeding barriers, I have recently had the chance to explore this question through a unique collaboration that challenged the way I approach advocacy. It also deepened my understanding of the powerful role that the community and environment have in shaping an individual’s decision-making process.
Origins of the Project
The project came about through an internship opportunity run by a midwifery and a fine art lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University. The internship was designed to explore how forms of art can be used to promote public health messages in new and engaging ways. I was especially excited to apply, as just a week prior, I had been discussing with my friend, a fine art student, about how we should work together to create something meaningful.
The World Health Organization (2023) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life to ensure optimal growth and development. Despite this in the UK only 1% exclusively breastfeed at six months with the North West being one of the worst performing regions, which has been attributed to higher levels of deprivation, however, we hope that the 2023 Infant Feeding Survey will show improving trends (McAndrew et al., 2012).
The aim of the project was to pair a fine art student with a midwifery student to explore aspects of breastfeeding, including common barriers, and use that shared knowledge to inspire a new piece of art.
After a short recruitment process, my friend and I were selected, along with three other fine art students and three other student midwives. I was initially nervous about the group discussions, as public speaking is not something I find easy. But the opportunity to brainstorm and collaborate, whilst sharing my knowledge of breastfeeding, felt too valuable to pass up.
The Collaborative Process
Following our initial group meeting with the lecturers, we were split into pairs to begin the creative conversations. My friend shared that she wanted to incorporate a textile element to the final piece. This led me to suggest using second-hand baby clothes, inspired by my recent placement on a neonatal unit.
There, I had observed the use of bonding squares, small fabric patches that carry a baby’s or mother’s scent. Mothers wishing to provide breastmilk would use these patches to promote oxytocin release and stimulate milk production (Sharma, Williams and Mala, 2025). Including such simple, intimate tools felt like a powerful and symbolic way to honour the physiological and emotional realities of infant feeding.
Throughout our discussions, I was reminded of just how much I have learnt during my midwifery education. Over time, it is easy to forget how much knowledge we accumulate when surrounded by others on the same journey. Explaining the science behind breastfeeding, including concepts like prolactin, oxytocin, and feeding cues, to someone outside of the field made me appreciate the depth of my growing expertise and how far I have come.
The Exhibition
The finished artwork was displayed at the Fine Art Degree Show in May and will soon rotate through hospitals across Liverpool before taking up a permanent home at the university. The intention is to display the artwork outside of traditional maternity settings, to start conversations around breastfeeding with people who may have indirect but significant influences on a mother’s feeding decisions, such as partners, parents, grandparents, and friends.
Seeing the final piece come together, and watching members of the public respond positively, was an incredibly rewarding experience. The artwork not only communicated our shared message but also sparked curiosity and dialogue in ways that felt both meaningful and unexpected.
Reflections on Impact
Promoting public health messages through art, rather than the traditional leaflets and posters, has the potential to reach people who might otherwise be disengaged. Creative expression invites personal interpretation, encourages curiosity, and can be more approachable and inclusive (Cameron et al., 2013).
By placing these artworks in public spaces, we hope to help destigmatise breastfeeding, making it more visible, normalised, and talked about within the wider Liverpool community. Art offers a space for reflection and for challenging long-held assumptions, which is exactly what this project set out to do.
Personally, this experience has shaped the way I think about both learning and advocacy. It has reminded me of the importance of supporting physiological practices and avoiding unnecessary interventions simply because they are familiar or routine. True advocacy starts with education, and education comes in many forms.
Conclusion
As student midwives, we have the power to not only support the women in our care but to spark new, inclusive conversations within our communities. This project has shown me that creativity and collaboration can be powerful tools for change.
I hope this work inspires future student midwives to explore innovative ways of educating the public, and to reimagine what public health education can look like – going beyond the clinical setting and into the heart of the community.
References:
Cameron, M., Crane, N., Ings, R., and Taylor, K. (2013) ‘Promoting well-being through creativity: how arts and public health can learn from each other’, Perspectives in Public Health, 133(1), pp. 52-59. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/1757913912466951
McAndrew, F., Thompson, J., Fellows, L., Large, A., Speed, M., and Renfrew, M.J. (2012) Infant Feeding Survey 2010. Available at: https://files.digital.nhs.uk/publicationimport/pub08xxx/pub08694/infant-feeding-survey-2010-consolidated-report.pdf (Accessed: 28th June 2025).
Sharma, S., Williams, D., and Mala, A. (2025) ‘Case-based learning: nutrition and feeding considerations for hospitalised neonates’, The Pharmaceutical Journal, 314(7995). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1211/PJ.2025.1.350059
World Health Organization (2023) Infant and young child feeding. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/infant-and-young-child-feeding (Accessed: 28th June 2025).
Becky Penfold Student Midwife, Liverpool John Moores University
July 2025
2 comments
This is very special and positive to read and see.
Deborah Roberton IBCLC facilitates a course which I have been lucky enough to attend twice by choice – ‘ The Art of Lactation’ which over 6 weeks explores the wonderful collaborative learning of
SciArt and slow learning using all the academic and evidence based research ( and lived experience projects )
This is such a great way to hone communication and the skills of looking in a creative curious way . Shared discussions are wonderful .
This has made my day – so much work in the piece of art.
Wow what a gorgeous creation 😍 Representation of breastfeeding in all forms of art and media is so important 🥰
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