NHS Islington...

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Breastfeeding and weaning

Breastfeeding and starting on solid foods (weaning)

Breastfeeding is the most important thing a mother can do to improve the lifelong health of her child. Breastfeeding offers babies protection from ear and chest infections, gastroenteritis, asthma, eczema, allergies, childhood leukaemia, diabetes, obesity and cot death. It also reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancer, diabetes and obesity for the mother.

The breastfeeding and weaning promotion project provides encouragement, support and up-to-date information for all local mothers to enable them to breastfeed their babies confidently. Support is also available on introducing solid foods to babies.

• Babies should have nothing but breastmilk for the first six months. Breastmilk contains all the nutrients a baby needs during this time. (Giving anything else will lessen the health benefits of breastfeeding and decrease the supply of breastmilk).
• Breastfeeding works best when babies are fed whenever they are hungry (‘on demand’). 
• Solids can be introduced from six months, when the baby’s development shows they are ready to cope with solids well. 
• The World Health Organization recommends that breastfeeding should continue for at least two years, as it continues to provide both significant nutrition and protection from illnesses.

 

If you need help with breastfeeding

Many mothers find they need some support with breastfeeding. This can be at any time, from pregnancy and getting started to your child’s final breastfeeds.

You can access breastfeeding support:

• By calling in at a breastfeeding drop in to talk to a peer supporter (see below)
• By attending a baby clinic where a peer supporter is present (not all clinics)
• By talking to your midwife or health visitor who may either provide information and support themselves, or advise you about breastfeeding drop-in sessions or telephone support lines
• By calling the breastfeeding peer support coordinator 
• By calling one of the national support lines at the bottom of this page.

Contact the Peer Support Coordinator, Faizun Nahar, on 020 3316 8439 or 07770 685501, or Infant Feeding Coordinator, Rosemary Brown, on 020 3316 8441 for more information.

 

Peer support – talking to other mothers

Talking to a trained peer supporter can often help mothers breastfeed their baby comfortably and manage any difficulties they might encounter. Peer supporters are local mothers who have experience of breastfeeding and have been trained by the Breastfeeding Network to support other mothers.

Peer supporters are available at breastfeeding drop-in sessions and are at some parents’ groups, antenatal, baby clinics and postnatal wards.  Home visits with peer supporters can also be arranged.

Breastfeeding drop in sessions are informal meetings at children’s centres where mothers can talk through any concerns with peer supporters and meet other mothers who are breastfeeding. There is usually a separate room available if you prefer to feed your baby or talk to a supporter in private.

A list of local breastfeeding drop in sessions and information on how to become a breastfeeding supporter can be found further down this page.

 

Breastfeeding out and about - Breastfeeding Welcome in Islington

Making women feel comfortable when they are breastfeeding when out and about can make all the difference between whether a mother continues to breastfeed or not, so many Islington businesses and venues are now signing up to be breastfeeding welcome.

Places such as health and children’s centres, libraries, cafes, sports centres and parks will be registered as breastfeeding welcome over the coming months and will display breastfeeding welcome posters and stickers, so that women wishing to breastfeed will know they’ll be welcome there.

The breastfeeding welcome scheme was developed by the Breastfeeding Manifesto Coalition because most UK mothers – including Islington mums – stop breastfeeding before they want to or intend to. One of the reasons often given is that they feel uncomfortable breastfeeding in public, even though all mothers have a legal right to breastfeed wherever they like.

For a list of Breastfeeding Welcome spaces in Islington click here.

Click here to join us on our Facebook page for news, views and the latest places that have signed up to be breastfeeding welcome.

If you are a breastfeeding mother and would like to nominate an Islington venue as breastfeeding welcome, click here or contact breastfeedingwelcome@islingtonpct.nhs.uk.

If you would like your business or organisation to become Breastfeeding Welcome contact, click here or contact breastfeedingwelcome@islingtonpct.nhs.uk.

Becoming Baby Friendly

Islington is working towards gaining the UNICEF Baby Friendly best practice award. The Baby Friendly standards aim to improve the information, support and encouragement provided in order to promote protect and support breastfeeding and appropriate introduction to solid foods. This means that all Islington midwives, health visitors and other health and children’s centre professionals will have baby friendly training in supporting breastfeeding effectively. Click here for more information on the UNICEF Baby Friendly initiative.

 

Further information

NHS Islington produces a range of information leaflets based on up-to-date evidence. The leaflets reflect the changes over recent years in guidance on breastfeeding and weaning, and explain why the recommendations have been changed.

Some parenting books, magazines and websites may not be evidence-based or may offer out-of-date recommendations. The leaflets below are free to download and offer a reliable source of information for parents.

• Milk and More - a leaflet on starting babies on solid foods (weaning) 
• Drinks for under 5s
• Snacking for under 5s
• Vitamin and Minerals for children aged 2-5 years

Useful websites

• NHS breastfeeding website 
• Breastfeeding Network (BfN)
• Breastfeeding specialist

 

Support lines

To talk to a breastfeeding supporter on the phone, you can call following support/help lines. Sometimes your call will be directed to an Islington peer supporter.

Breastfeeding Network support line
9.30am-9.30pm every day
Tel: 0300 100 0210

National Breastfeeding Helpline
9.30am-9.30pm
Tel: 0300 100 0212

Breastfeeding Network Bengali/Sylheti support line
Tel: 0300 456 2421

 

Breastfeeding drop-ins in Islington

Drop into any of these informal groups to meet other mums and to get information and help with breastfeeding. Babies and children of any age are welcome. No need to make an appointment.

Monday

12.00 - 2.00pm
Goodinge Early Years Centre
Corporation Street, N7 9EH
Tel: 020 7607 5850

1.30pm - 3.30pm
Hornsey Road Children's Centre
8 Titlman Square, 260 Hornsey Road N7 7EN
Tel: 020 7527 2005

Tuesday

1.00pm - 3.00pm
Bemerton Children’s Centre
1A Coatbridge House
Carnoustie Drive, N1 0DX
Tel: 020 7527 4806

Wednesday

1.00pm - 3.00pm
Archway Children’s Centre
Vorley Road, N19 5HE
Tel: 020 7527 4827

Thursday

1.00pm - 3.00pm
New River Green Children's Centre
Ramsey Walk, N1 2SX
Tel: 020 7527 4813

1.00pm - 3.00pm
Moreland Community House
31,Moreland Street, EC1V 8BB
Tel: 020 7336 8453

Friday

1.00pm - 3.00pm
Ambler Children's Centre
Ambler Primary School
Blackstock Road, N4 2DR
Tel: 020 7359 7628
 
This list is up-to-date as of November 2010. For up-to-date information, please contact:

Faizun Nahar
020 3316 8439 or 07770 685501.

 

Training as a peer supporter

NHS Islington funds the Breastfeeding Network to train local mothers to support other Islington mothers with breastfeeding.

The training has Open College Network accreditation and takes place over 14 weeks for two hours per week. Once trained, peer supporters and helpers attend on-going supervision sessions to ensure they have the opportunity to continue to develop knowledge and skills.

Trained supporters attend breastfeeding drop in sessions and other groups on a voluntary basis and can be trained to work on telephone support lines. Expenses such as childcare and travel are reimbursed.

The peer supporters represent a variety of ethnic backgrounds and languages, as well as different breastfeeding and parenting experiences.

Any mother who has breastfed can apply for this training and should contact the Peer Support Coordinator (Faizun Nahar 020 3316 8439 or 07770 685501) or see www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk.