Halton | Warrington
Below is some information on breastfeeding and infant feeding which is provided by Bridgewater.
Click on the tabs above for more the support which is available to you in your local area.
Initially you will receive support from your midwife or health visitor or from a community infant feeding support worker, who can usually help with common feeding issues encountered by both new and experienced parents.
It may be that you need more specialist help and support if things don’t improve quickly or are more complex and a referral to the infant feeding specialist can be made.
Infant Feeding Specialists link with Public Health Nurse teams (Health Visitors, Staff Nurses, Nursery Nurses and Clinic Nurses), Midwives, Children Centres services/teams, General Practitioners (GPs), local councils, including breastfeeding peer support services.
Areas of work include staff education, advising and updating with evidence based practice and supporting parents /carers and staff on all matters related to infant feeding.
What education and support are available to me?
You can access support and education through your midwife, health visitor, at your local clinics and children centres. You can use these services during pregnancy and after your baby is born.
Click on your local area to see what is available for you access.
What additional support through the Breastfeeding and Infant Feeding services teams is there?
Infant Feeding Co-ordinators link with Public Health Nurse teams (Health Visitors, Staff Nurses, Nursery Nurses and Clinic Nurses), Midwives, Children Centres services/teams, General Practitioners (GPs), local councils, including breastfeeding peer support services.
Areas of work include:
- promoting, protecting and supporting mothers who breastfeed
- encouraging mothers who choose to bottle feed responsively
- staff education
- advise and update with evidenced based practice, including supporting staff and parents/carers on all matters related to infant feeding
- breastfeeding groups across all boroughs
- all teams are UNICEF Baby Friendly accredited
Helpful external resources:
Get Support – La Leche League GB
There are a range of ways LLLGB can offer you support with breastfeeding, by telephone, in writing, or using our online information and printed materials.
Home – The Breastfeeding Network
The Breastfeeding Network (BfN) aims to be an independent source of support and information for breastfeeding women and others.
Support for parents – Baby Friendly Initiative (unicef.org.uk)
A range of useful resources for parents on infant feeding and relationship building, as well as information on overcoming common breastfeeding challenges.
Home – ABM
The Association of Breastfeeding Mothers (ABM) is a voluntary organisation founded in 1979 by mothers already experienced in breastfeeding counselling.
COVID-19 vaccination: women of childbearing age, currently pregnant or breastfeeding
Information for all women of childbearing age, those currently pregnant or breastfeeding on coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination.
Off to the best start leaflet
Published by Better Health Start for Life and the Baby Friendly Initiative and updated in 2022, this leaflet provides mothers and health professionals with key information about breastfeeding.
Guide to bottle feeding leaflet
Published by Better Health Start for Life and the Baby Friendly Initiative and updated in 2022, this leaflet provides families and health professionals with key information about bottle feeding.
Support contact numbers:
National Breastfeeding Helpline: 0300 100 0212
Association of Breastfeeding Mothers: 0300 330 5453
La Leche League: 0345 120 2918
National Childbirth Trust (NCT): 0300 330 0700
The Breastfeeding Network supporter line in Bengali and Sylheti: 0300 456 2421