Lactation help guide

During pregnancy it is highly likely you will given leaflets and one-to-one support about the subject of breastfeeding from your midwife and GP.

You may well be invited to attend a dedicated antenatal breastfeeding class run by your hospital, which teaches you what to expect and helps prepare you for the bodily changes you will experience.

Alternatively private parenting classes are available from the National Childbirth Trust (NCT), which are used by many expectant mothers as a social lifeline with other parents-to-be at the same stage in pregnancy, as well as an invaluable source of information and advice.

After giving birth, midwives are on hand for the first week or two to help ease you into breastfeeding, thereafter your health visitor or GP is probably best placed to help with any common concerns, and can tell you about local breastfeeding classes, drop-in centres, and breastfeeding friendly venues.

One to one medical support

This is given freely by midwives, health visitors and other experienced volunteers, who will be able to advise and support you either by in person or by phone (contact your local GP surgery for details).

Specialist lactation support

Lactation consultants specialise in promoting, protecting and supporting breastfeeding and lactation issues. More information can be found on the website, Lactation Consultants of Great Britain, where there are links to find individual local lactation consultants as well as source private lactation consultants. La Leche League also provides dedicated specialist support, with a helpline: 0845 120 2918.

Social support

Many breastfeeding drop-in centres exist all over the UK, which are run variously at playgroups, GP surgeries and health care centres, or in breastfeeding cafes and coffee shops. To find out what’s available in your area, consult your lactation consultant, your health visitor, your local children’s centre or family information centre, call the National Breastfeeding Helpline on 0300 100 0212, or visit the Breastfeeding Network centre locator. Another useful website, The Baby Café, lists a network of breastfeeding drop-ins, searchable by postcode.

Support from partners

To help support you while you’re breastfeeding, it’s a great idea for your partner to share in your research and book paternity leave for the first couple of weeks of your newborn’s life. If you are able to express your breast milk, then your partner can participate in the bonding process by feeding your baby using a bottle (which will also give you a well-deserved rest). Statistics show that women who feel supported by their loved ones tend to breastfeed for longer.

Support for partners

The unique demands of breastfeeding places a new strain on any couple, and it is always good to compare notes with others in the same position. The Fatherhood Institute website offers a good deal of helpful advice and shared concerns within a wide variety of articles and forums, such as Breastfeeding support for men.

For more information, please browse Let's Talk Breasts’ extensive library of nursing articles, or you can visit the breastfeeding section of the NHS website which also features a long list of links to helplines and useful websites.