Specialist Infant Feeding Team - Brighton and Hove
This service provides a range of specialist services for mothers and families with infant feeding, working together to reach their goals.
What does this service provide?
Who we are
We are a Specialist Infant Feeding Team based in Brighton and Hove, including Lactation Consultants, Breastfeeding Specialists, and Breastfeeding Peer Support Coordinators.
What we do
In this information, we refer to mothers, breastfeeding, and breastmilk. We recognise that not everyone identifies with this language, and we encourage and embrace the use of parents preferred terms.
We are part of the Healthy Child Programme implementing baby friendly initiative standards. We provide support to enable women who choose to breastfeed to do so as long as they wish.
Families can expect a person-centred approach, either at an infant feeding support drop in (MILK) or a 1 to 1. We will listen to you to gain an understanding of your goals and the needs of your baby, before offering support
We work alongside the Healthy Child Programme to run MILK drop-ins across Brighton and Hove, they are great opportunity to:
- meet other breastfeeding families
- build confidence feeding outside your home in the early days
- trained breastfeeding peer supporter are available to support with feeding questions or adapting to life with a new baby
- discuss common challenges, starting solids or returning to work
- support from the Healthy Child Programme
- specialist support from the Infant feeding team is available when needed
We run a breastfeeding peer support programme, recruiting, training, and supervising a team of SCFT registered volunteers, to provide mother-to-mother support for the normal course of breastfeeding from the postnatal ward and into the MILK drop-ins. If you have breastfeeding experience and are interested in volunteering, please contact the team.
Our specialist service offers one to one support for complex and persistent infant feeding challenges, which can be in parallel to the other services available.
Appointment information
Appointment types
Specialist service 1-1 appointments will be with a breastfeeding specialist or lactation consultant. The appointments will be offered by the Infant Feeding Team at the family hub, by telephone or video. Appointments at home are arranged according to need.
MILK drop-ins take place at the family hubs, throughout the week. Brighton and Hove residents are welcome to access which ever drop-in suits them best.
How can I access this service?
We accept referrals for families in Brighton and Hove who require support with infant feeding.
Families can self-refer by accessing our service through the infant feeding support group (MILK) drop ins, through their health visitor or by emailing our team via the contact details below.
You are then welcome to attend our MILK groups for as long as you like.
| Morning | Afternoon | |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 10:00am to 12:00pm Bumps 2 Babies, Saltdean Lido Independent community group |
|
| Tuesday | 10:30am to 12:00pm Hanover Community Centre Independent community group |
1:00pm to 3:00pm Moulscoomb Family Hub MILK drop-in |
| Wednesday | 1:00pm to 3:00pm Whitehawk Family Hub MILK drop-in |
|
| Thursday | 1:00pm to 3:00pm Conway Court Family Hub MILK drop-in |
|
| Friday | 10:00am to 12:00pm Tarner Family Hub MILK drop-in |
|
For directions and group details see below.
How can I contact this service?
Opening times
We are open Monday to Friday, from 9:00am to 5:00pm. We are closed on weekends and bank holidays.
Waiting times
There is no current waiting list. We aim to be as responsive as possible.
Where can I find resources for this service?
Health for under 5s – website providing support and advice for parents with children from 0–5 years old
Baby-friendly initiative resources – UNICEF website, providing information and advice on a range of issues around caring for babies and families
First Steps Nutrition Trust – helpful website providing information on nutrition, eating well, and infant milk
ICON – website providing advice and support for parents on how to comfort a crying baby
Global Health Media – website providing support and advice on how to breastfeed
La Leche – website providing friendly breastfeeding support and advice
Breastfeeding Network – website providing independent breastfeeding support and information
National Breastfeeding Helpline: 0300 100 0212
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