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.

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

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.