What support is available for breastfeeding and weaning?

Breastfeeding support across the Bradford district

Breastfeed Together

Having someone to provide a listening ear and some practical tips to help you along your breastfeeding journey can be really helpful.

Breastfeed Together is our district wide breastfeeding peer support service.

Local trained volunteers provide parent-to-parent support with everyday breastfeeding situations, whatever the age of your baby. You can come along to one of the Breastfeed Together support groups to chat to our peer supporters and other mothers. Groups take place in the community and online. Visit the Breastfeed Together webpage to find out more or talk to your midwife or health visitor.

Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BreastfeedTogetherBDCFT

For further support and advice, you can also contact:

  • Bradford's Health Visitors 01274 221223
  • Bradford's Infant Feeding Specialist Midwife 01274 364583

Better Start Bradford breastfeeding support

Parents living in Bowling and Barkerend, Bradford Moor and Little Horton can also get breastfeeding support through the Better Start Bradford project. The free support is available for people with babies aged between 0 and 6 months. There is language support in Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi and German.

You can visit their Facebook page or Health for All for more details.

Starting Solids

HENRY are running free Starting Solids sessions for families who have either just started introducing solids to baby's diet or are thinking of starting to soon. The 2 hour workshop enables parents, carers and grandparents to ask questions, learn top tips, share ideas and meet other families with children of a similar age.

Benefits of breastfeeding

Human milk (mother’s breast milk) contains antibodies and many protective factors for the baby which help strengthen the baby’s immune system and protect the baby’s health. 

These cannot be found in any other milk. Continue breastfeeding even if you or your baby is unwell. Breastfeeding is free!

Getting off to a good start

Baby will be offered skin to skin closeness at birth as normal (unless there is a complication) – this helps you and your baby to breastfeed. The first feed of colostrum is valuable for your baby’s health.

Getting support through the first 2 weeks is essential to get your milk supply in tune with your baby’s needs. Your body is capable of making all the milk your baby needs - no need to worry about not having enough.

Bottle feeding: what formula should I use?

Babies under 1 year will only need any first stage cow's milk based infant formula.

If your own brand is not available use different first stage milk, not a 2nd stage or follow on milk. Try a different shop or pharmacy.

Your baby can have food from 6 months. Use full fat cow's milk to mix into your baby’s food from 6 months. You can use Healthy Start Vouchers for first stage formula milk.

Better Start Bradford Breastfeeding

The Better Start Bradford Breastfeeding team offer telephone and email support and advice on feeding issues. Languages available: English, Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, and German.

Call Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm on 01274 287968
Monday to Friday, 5pm to 8pm and Saturday 9am to 5pm on 07903 174429
Or email: breastfeedingadmin@healthforall.org.uk

Further information

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