The first days and weeks of life with your new baby will be joyful but probably not free of challenges. It is very important that you ask for help from family and friends at this time. Your baby’s wellbeing depends on you being healthy and supported.
There is also professional infant feeding support available for you at home and in your community.
- The first two weeks after your baby’s birth, Community Midwives and Support Workers in your area will visit you at home for at least 10 days. Apart from caring for your and your baby’s post-partum health, they will support you with feeding. Please use their visits to let them know of any concerns about feeding your baby.
- Ten to fourteen days after the birth, your Health Visitor will see you and your baby; they can continue to provide feeding support and refer to specialist feeding services in your home area if you are experiencing any challenges.
- Anytime. There are also feeding support groups in the community that you may find very useful. Follow the links below for groups and resources you can access in your area.
Infant feeding support near you
DVH Infant Feeding Team. We can be contacted Monday to Friday via email dgn-tr.infantfeedingteam@nhs.net to let us know of any feeding challenges. Our Support sheet has a list of links to the main sources of support and information in our area. Infant feeding support sheet
#BesideYou #BesideYou website provide information and support for breatfeeding families in Kent and Meadway. Use their map to find peer and specialist support groups every day of the week. Map of Infant Feeding Support groups in Kent and Medway - #BesideYou
Kent Baby- Kent Health Visitors Kent Baby - Health Visiting Service You can phone your local team for advice or reassurance Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (except bank holidays). Dartford − 0300 123 2075 / kentchft.dartfordHV@nhs.net Gravesend − 0300 123 2076 / kentchft.gravesendHV@nhs.net Sevenoaks, Swanley − 0300 123 4497 / kentchft.sevenoaksHV@nhs.net
Bexley 0 to 19 Bexley 0 to 19 Infant Feeding Support Clinics in Sidcup, Erith and Bexleyheath offer and opportunity for parents and carers to speak to the Health Visitor and discuss any corcerns. If you want more about clinics please call 0300 330 5777 or email bromh.bexley0to19@nhs.net.
La Leche League East Kent La Leche League offer coffee mornings in Gravesend, Rochester and Maidstone and Zoom meetings on different weekdays. They also have a 24 hour telephone helpline you can use nights and weekends 0345 120 2918.
NCT Breastfeeding Counsellors offer support in the Dartford and Gravsend areas. Text them and they will contact you. Judianne Sherrell 07958 567 522 (text first please). NCT helpline 8 am to midnight 0300 330 0700
First Steps Nutrition - Evidence based information about infant milks
Breastfeeding information in various languages - Global Health Media