Should you need urgent health advice please contact your GP or call NHS 111. In an emergency please visit A&E or call 999

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Breastfeeding peer support in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland

Breastfeeding Peer Support aims to promote, protect and support breastfeeding to improve the health and wellbeing of mothers and babies and reduce health inequalities.

Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland are working on the warm chain of breastfeeding support, where parents can access consistent information, support from conception and parenthood. Working together, we are coordinating efforts at all levels to support you with feeding your baby.

The warm chain is made up of Midwives, health visitors, breastfeeding peer supporters, family hub workers and other health professionals. Each contribute to making the links in the chain you need to be confident in feeding your baby.

Everyone can be part of the warm chain of support, including partners, grandparents, friends, employers and businesses. We all play a part in protecting and supporting you and your baby with feeding.

Breastfeeding support groups are a great place to make new friends, through sharing experiences and up and downs of caring for a new baby.

Breastfeeding Peer Supporters:

  • Work under the supervision of Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust’s Infant Feeding team
  • Deliver monthly antenatal infant feeding workshops on MS Teams if you are pregnant or know anyone who is. The dates and session information can be found via the Events page of our website.

Button to click to view antenatal infant feeding groups

  • Offer support via telephone, through Facebook or at one of our groups, which can be found on your interactive service finder map.

Button to click to access interactive service finder map

  • Provide warm, friendly, and welcoming groups held in Family Hubs or venues in your local area
  • Are trained breastfeeding peer supporters who have breastfed/chest fed their own children
  • Provide reliable, evidence-based information for all mothers, parents-to-be, breastfeeding/chest feeding and combination feeding families.
  • Offer quarterly return to work workshops. The dates and session information can be found via the Events page of our website.

Button to click to access return to work workshops

Mammas

Leicester Mammas work alongside midwives and health visitors. Supporting mothers on the phone, through home visits and at their groups.

Leicester Mammas provide antenatal sessions, which is a free course on Zoom, and consists of four sessions covering:

  • Looking after yourself in pregnancy
  • Preparing for labour and birth
  • Feeding your new baby – understanding what’s normal and how to overcome challenges
  • The early days with your new baby.

Click here to find out more about Leicester Mammas and to register for their antenatal sessions.

ChatHealth Logo

Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust runs a confidential secure text messaging service for parents of children aged 0-19 years called Chat Health. The service operates Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm, excluding bank holidays. All texts will be responded to by a public health nurse (health visitor/school nurse) within 24 hours. Outside of the service working hours, you’ll receive a message back to inform you that your text will be responded to once the line reopens.

Healthy Together Logo

Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust runs the Healthy Together Helpline for parents and carers in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. The Helpline’s qualified health and administrative professionals offer easy to access, safe and free advice, support and signposting. Calls are answered from 9am – 4.30pm on weekdays, excluding bank holidays. Calls are charged at the same rate as calling a standard landline number.

Should you require urgent health advice in the meantime, please contact your GP, visit an NHS walk-in centre or call NHS 111. For emergencies, dial 999 or visit A&E.

Page last reviewed: 26-01-2024

Next review due: 26-01-2027