Breastfeeding Support in the Community

Breastfeeding is both a skill and an art that takes time for mothers and babies to learn. Your Community Midwife will help you with this process until your baby is about 10 days old. She will then hand over your care to your Health Visitor.

Contact your Midwife or Health Visitor for help, if your baby:

• Is having difficulty attaching to the breast
• Is feeding fewer than 6 times in 24 hours
• Falls asleep soon after starting to feed
• Wants to feed 'all the time'
• Isn't having as many wet and dirty nappies each day as indicated in the nappy leaflet
• You are having breast or nipple pain

Many mothers find they receive excellent information and support from the three networks of trained, lay Breastfeeding Support Counsellors in Britain. These counsellors (who are breastfeeding mums themselves) are available to give help over the phone.

West Lothian Breast Friends specially trained Breastfeeding Peer Supporters offer one to one breastfeeding advice, for further information telephone: 01506 771843. 

Useful information and advice can be found at www.feedgoodfactor.org.uk

Phoning the national number for each of these organisations will put you through to the nearest local counsellor:

 La Leche League                   0845 120 2918

The Breastfeeding Network     0870 900 8787

National Childbirth Trust         0870 444 8708

Many areas in Lothian have weekly or fortnightly Breastfeeding support groups run by a midwife and/or a Health Visitor. These groups can be a great way of learning about breastfeeding, meeting other new mums and getting help if you are having any problems with feeding.
You and your baby are welcome to attend any of these groups.