Breastfeeding Support Contacts - Local (Swindon) & National (UK).

I thought I would write a quick blog post aimed at new parents with the details of National and Local (to Swindon) Breastfeeding Support.

I believe that mothers need to be supported in breastfeeding, and in a lot of cases it is an uphill struggle to begin with, but by seeking support from trained knowledgable individuals I hope you can go on to have a wonderfully successful breastfeeding relationship with your child too.

National Support Telephone Helplines.

• National Breastfeeding Helpline:
  Tel 0300 100 0212

• National Childbirth Trust (NCT) Breastfeeding Line (Open 8.00am – 10.00pm):
  Tel 0300 330 0771

• La Leche League (24 hour helpline):
  Tel 0845 120 2918

• The Association of Breastfeeding Mothers (Open 9.30am – 10.30pm):
  Tel 0844 412 2949

• Breastfeeding Network (BfN) and Supporters Line (Open 9.30am – 9.30pm):
  Tel 0300 1000210

Local Support available in Swindon.

Swindon Breastmates is jointly run by mothers (peer supporters), breastfeeding counsellors, midwives, health visitors, nursery nurses and staff in Children’s centres all across Swindon and the surrounding villages.
It provides mothers with a place to meet others with babies at the same time as encouraging and sharing their breastfeeding experiences.  It is a well known fact that 'talking to other women who are breastfeeding or have breastfed can often be a great support. You can learn what to expect and what is and is not normal.’

Swindon Extended Breastfeeding Support is a new Facebook based group for Swindon mothers, who hope to meet up at least monthly in the near future.  It is a group aimed at mothers who are, or hope to breastfeed their children past 12 months.

Local Telephone Breastfeeding Support

• Community Midwives Office (Open 9.00am – 9.45am) For up to 28 days after birth Tel: 01793 604814 -17 or 605576 

• Community Midwife bleep holder (Available 8.30am-5.00pm) Tel: 01793 604020 (ask operator for community midwife bleep holder)

• Great Western Hospital Maternity bleep holder (24 hours) Tel: 01793 604020 (ask operator for maternity bleep holder) 

•  Health Visiting Team - SureStart Breastfeeding Support (9.00am – 4.30pm Monday to Friday) Tel: 01793 705091

Useful Breastfeeding Websites.

www.nct.org.uk

www.realbabymilk.org

www.abm.me.uk

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk

www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly

www.realbabymilk.org/swindon

www.laleche.org.uk

www.biologicalnurturing.com

www.kellymom.com

http://www.nhs.uk/planners/breastfeeding/pages/breastfeeding.aspx

http://www.nhs.uk/start4life/pages/welcome-to-start4life.aspx