These short films give advice on breastfeeding
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Healthy eating
Advice on healthy eating for all age groups, accessing free and low-cost food, and support for eating disorders.
Breastfeeding help
Breastfeeding groups
In Southwark, The Breastfeeding Network provides free baby feeding information to all Southwark families. A referral is not needed.
Their teams can support you with:
• getting started with breastfeeding after birth
• overcoming common challenges like sore nipples or concerns about milk supply
• expressing and storing breastmilk
• introducing solid foods alongside breastfeeding
• continuing to breastfeed when returning to work
• ending your breastfeeding journey when the time is right for you
All sessions are co-led by peer supporters, infant feeding specialists and health visitors.
Find more breastfeeding drop-ins across London
The ‘Lambeth & Southwark Breastfeeding Groups' Facebook page has the most up-to-date information about our breastfeeding groups, including holiday closures of children’s centres.
Drop-in sessions at St Thomas' Hospital
If you're staying on the maternity unit, you can go to a daily breastfeeding information session, which is held in the postnatal ward.
If you or your baby are staying somewhere else in Guy's and St Thomas', please contact us for support and information:
Phone: 020 7188 7564
Email: BreastfeedingTeam@gstt.nhs.uk
Health visitors
Health visitors can offer advice and support on breastfeeding and starting solids.
Contact Southwark health visiting service by:
- calling 020 3049 8166
- emailing gst-tr.spahealthvisitingservicesouthwark@nhs.net
Children and family centres
Southwark's Children and Family Centres can help you with:
- breastfeeding support
- advice on starting solids
- recipes on a budget
- positive mealtimes
- cook and eat classes
Breastfeeding helplines
The National Breastfeeding Helpline is open 24 hours a day. Call:
- 0300 100 0212 for help in English
- 0300 456 2421 for help in Bengali and Sylheti
- 0300 100 0212 for help in Polish
You can also call:
- Association of Breastfeeding Mothers: 0300 330 5453
- La Leche League: 0345 120 2918
- National Childbirth Trust (NCT): 0300 330 0700
Text BABYBUDDY to 85258 for free anonymous support via text message, any time of day or night.
Online breastfeeding help
Short films
Websites
Start For Life breastfeeding guides
Southwark Infant Feeding Team Padlet is a fantastic source of information on available support, positioning, attachment, challenges and much more
Bliss is a special-care baby charity that supports families of premature and sick babies across the UK.
The Breastfeeding Network provides breastfeeding support and information.
La Leche League offers 1-to-1 support with breastfeeding
Lactation Consultants of Great Britain: find a lactation consultant near you.
Twins Trust: feeding twins and triplets.
National Childbirth Trust (NCT) is a charity that provides information and support on all aspects of pregnancy, birth and early parenthood, including breastfeeding.
UK Association for Milk Banking has information about using donated breast milk if your baby is premature or ill, and how to donate breast milk.
Breastfeeding apps
The Baby Buddy app supports you throughout your pregnancy and parenting journey, day by day. Download Baby Buddy for iOS
The Breastfeeding Friend is a digital tool that gives NHS approved information and advice on breastfeeding. You can use it with Amazon Alexa, Google Home and Facebook Messenger.