Breastfeeding
BREAST4BABY offers support and practical up-to-date information about every aspect of breastfeeding and is run by Karen Powell and Paula Blanchette, two very experienced and caring Breastfeeding Specialists. Breast4Baby offers a home-visit service alongside telephone consultations, or you can consult them at their welcoming premises in West Wickham. Breast4Baby also offers private and group breastfeeding preparation classes. Parents who've been taught by Lisa qualify for a 20% discount on all services so, for example, a £50 initial home consultation will cost £40, as will a private prenatal breastfeeding preparation session. For more information, visit www.breast4baby.co.uk or call 07809 228 415 (Karen) or 07842 560 370 (Paula).
The La Leche League offers help with breastfeeding, and free 24-hour support.
Mayday Hospital offers free breastfeeding drop-in sessions on Fridays from 10am to 12 noon, staffed by a midwife, National Childbirth Trust instructor or La Leche League member. The sessions are held in the Parentcraft Room, next door to the ante-natal clinic at the back of the hospital.
The charity The Breastfeeding Network has a Supporterline (0870 9008787) which will automatically connect you to your local Breastfeeding Supporter by recognising the area you are calling from anywhere in the UK. The service operates from 9.30am to 9.30pm every day of the year, and calls will be charged at the usual national rate in the UK.
The Association Of Breastfeeding Mothers has a breastfeeding helpline (0870 401771) open every day from 9.30am to 10.30pm. All its telephone breastfeeding counsellors are volunteers who have breastfed their own children and have also received in-depth training on all aspects of breastfeeding.
One of the parents I taught who experienced difficulties with breastfeeding and did a lot of research into the subject, recommended the following and hoped it would be of help:
1. Look at the wesites:
www.drjacknewman.com
www.kellymom.com (lots of information and solutions to breastfeeding problems)
2. Read The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers by Jack Newman.
3. Contact a lactation consultant to help on the day your baby's born (the cost if things go wrong is much higher than paying for a private consultation).
4. Even if the baby does not latch on on the first day, the mother should express as many times as possible from the first day to develop milk supply.
