Breastfeeding support

The Baby Friendly Team are part of Bedfordshire Community 0-19 Health Services who are dedicated to infant feeding and relationship building.  Families are at the heart of the work we do; providing excellent information and support around breastfeeding’s role in protecting, comforting and providing nutrition to baby. The team also promote, support and strengthen mother-baby and family relationships within our communities.

You can find out more about the Baby Friendly Team by clicking here

Breastfeeding helplines

National Breastfeeding Helpline: 0300 100 0212

The Breastfeeding Network supporter line in Bengali and Sylheti: 0300 456 2421

Association of Breastfeeding Mothers: 0300 330 5453

La Leche League: 0345 120 2918

National Childbirth Trust (NCT): 0300 330 0700

Baby Brasseries are breastfeeding support groups in various locations around Bedfordshire. These offer a welcoming environment for women to meet other breastfeeding mums and form a support network, as well as get help with breastfeeding issues.  We welcome mums to attend with older siblings and encourage pregnant women to join us and talk about breastfeeding, meet the team and become familiar with the group.  This may help new mums to feel more confident to attend once the baby has arrived.

Baby Brasseries can be found in the following places

All these times must be pre-booked by calling Beds Borough Children’s Centre on:

0300 323 0245

We are proud to have a mother to mother peer support service – our volunteer Bedfordshire Breastfeeding Buddies (BBB). They attend Brasseries and Pop-ins alongside the 0-19 team (health visitors, community staff nurses & nursery nurses) to provide support to mums.  Buddies have undergone training to help support breastfeeding mothers and keep up to date with the latest information on breastfeeding.

What is a Bedfordshire Breastfeeding Buddy (BBB)?

A Breastfeeding Buddy is a mum who has breastfed, usually for at least three months, and  has volunteered to support other breastfeeding mums. This role is also known as a breastfeeding peer supporter.  Buddies have undergone training to help support breastfeeding mothers and keep up to date with the latest information on breastfeeding.

BBB’s offer mothers emotional and practical support with breastfeeding and model breastfeeding as an everyday part of life.

A BBB may be asked to volunteer at a Baby Brasserie, a Pop-in (Well Baby Clinic) or Antenatal group.  They are there to provide valuable mother-to-mother support – they will always have a member of the 0-19 Team or Children’s Centre staff at the group to support them.  We expect that a BBB will be able to volunteer for us at least twice a month.

How do I become a Bedfordshire Breastfeeding Buddy (BBB)?

In the first instance speak to your Health Visitor or contact ccs.beds.childrens.babyfriendlyteam@nhs.net

You will meet with one of the Baby Friendly Team prior to attending the 2 ½ day training course and be given an application pack to complete, which includes a criminal record (DBS) check and a health questionnaire.

We will ask you to attend our 2 ½ day Breastfeeding Management and Relationship Building course and complete the required practical elements of the course.

What support will I receive as a Bedfordshire Breastfeeding Buddy (BBB)?

As a BBB, you will be linked to the 0-19 team which covers the area you volunteer in. You will have a Buddy Champion, who works within the 0-19 team and is your first contact point with any issues or queries.

The Baby Friendly Team will support you during your time as a BBB. As part of this, we expect you to attend Update & Reflection sessions. These take place once every half term and will be local to you. Update & Reflection sessions are a chance for you to talk about any issues you have come across, as well as learn about relevant topics to your role. You are welcome to bring your little ones along with you to these sessions.

Milk Mentors is a community organisation in Milton Keynes that was set up by J'Nel Metherell, a local International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), to build a network of peer supporters to help parents in our local area who wish to breastfeed. The group is maintained collaboratively by our peer supporters and is run and directed by those within the group who have the ideas and passion to make Milk Mentors what it is, while continuing to uphold the mission and ethos of this amazing community project.

You can find out more, including finding the local Bedford support group and peer mentors by clicking here

LLL Bedfordshire is currently running a monthly in person meeting at the Women’s Centre in Bedford. This is held on first Tuesday of the month. Any unexpected last minute changes will be announced to those who have signed up to attend and on our facebook group

All stages and ages welcome, including if your pregnant: come and chat around topics such as beginning breastfeeding/chestfeeding, avoiding difficulties, common concerns, starting solids and night times. All breastfeeding/ chestfeeding topics and questions welcome.

Up to date information about our meeting dates and times can be found on our Facebook page.

We also have an active Facebook group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/LLLBedfordshire/. Please make sure to answer the questions when asking to be added.

Want to talk or need more info? You don’t have to wait for meetings for help and support, you can contact one of the local Bedfordshire leaders:

Sarah
07825051252
Lalecheleague.sarah@gmail.com
Hannah lalecheleague.hannah@gmail.com

• Email: Lalecheleague.sarah@gmail.com
• Facebook:

Contact/s:

• 07825051252