Need help supporting people with breastfeeding?

Next week is national breastfeeding week (18-21 September), which aims to promote awareness about the importance of optimal breastfeeding in infants. 

We have a vital role to play in promoting and protecting breastfeeding. Our commitment to providing the best possible care to mothers and infants is essential, and breastfeeding is a fundamental aspect as it provides essential nutrients and antibodies that support a child’s healthy growth and development.

The infant feeding team, Lauren Jones, infant feeding specialist midwife and Haidee Neville, infant feeding maternity support worker are doing some amazing work running a specialist clinic for babies up to 28 days old, tongue tie clinics, completing frequent audits to maintain our UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative accreditation, and presenting multi-disciplinary staff training.

They have been working hard to come up with proactive solutions to enable staff who are unfamiliar with supporting people with breastfeeding, to feel confident in providing evidence-based care and information.

Small cards have been created that can be attached to lanyards with QR codes and quick search terms for online resources about medications for breastfeeding. Please email  tsdft.infantfeedingtorbay@nhs.net​ if you would like a card and posters for your area. 

Most excitingly, Lauren and Haidee are working towards having a room for staff to express and store breastmilk, and are supporting another department to set up a private infant feeding space. We will share more information on the progress of these when we can.

The team will be at the exhibition area, level 4 main entrance, Torbay Hospital on Thursday 21 Sept​ember from 9am to 1pm. Come along and ask any questions you may have about how to support breastfeeding. There will also be educational resources for you to look at.

If you feel that your team would benefit from infant feeding training on a specific topic, or you see an opportunity for professional development in this area amongst their team then please get in touch with the team by emailing  tsdft.infantfeedingtorbay@nhs.net and they will be happy to help.

There is more information about caring for people who are breastfeeding on ICON.

Are you returning to work as a breastfeeding parent? Lauren and Haidee would love to hear about your experiences and any challenges and successes you’ve had when caring for someone who is breastfeeding. Please contact tsdft.infantfeedingtorbay@nhs.net.