Who we are
The infant feeding team is part of Wirral’s 0-19 Health and Wellbeing Service. Our infant feeding team provide information, support and training to healthcare professionals to ensure a high standard of care for pregnant people and breast/chestfeeding families.
The team also support families with complex infant feeding needs, antenatally and postnatally.
What we do
Adopting UNICEF’s Baby Friendly Initiative, our team ensures all parents make informed decisions about feeding their babies and are supported in their chosen feeding method.
This includes:
- Raising awareness of the health and financial benefits of breastfeeding.
- Co-ordinating breastfeeding groups and supporting local venues to become ‘Baby Friendly’ accredited as part of Wirral’s Baby Welcome Scheme.
- On-going training for healthcare professionals and sharing best practice to enable them to give mothers the support, information and encouragement they need.
- Lactation Clinic – a specialist clinic, provided by the Infant Feeding Lead and Paediatric Dietitians supporting those in need of additional breastfeeding support for complex feeding difficulties.
Koala North West – Breastfeeding Peer Support
Koala North West are our partners in providing support for breastfeeding families. Koala North West are commissioned by our 0-19 service to work with families to help them achieve the feeding journey they desire. Koala North West work both on a one to one basis, with families at home and also in community settings offering group support.
Koala North West also offer a range of specialist courses and programmes. For more information call 0151 608 8288 or visit the Koala North West website.
Useful resources
- www.koalanw.co.uk/
- www.unicef.org.uk/BabyFriendly
- www.facebook.com/Get-Wirral-Breastfeeding
- First Steps Nutrition Trust
- www.breastfeedinginfo.ca
- ‘It’s OK to ask’ Maternity Cultural curiosity videos
- Healthy Start Scheme
- Feeding your baby – Best Start in Life – NHS
Leaflets, helplines and videos to support you
Breastfeeding support is structured around:
- positioning and attachment
- expressing
- resolving problems such as blocked ducts, mastitis and thrush
Specialist support is also offered for:
- preterm babies
- twins
- mum or baby with additional medical problems
- feeding problems related to tongue tie
Useful resources
Local leaflets:
- Safer Sleep (0-3 month)
- Safer Sleep (3-6 months)
- Safer Sleep (6-12 months)
- Safer Sleep (1-2 years)
- Safer Sleep (2-3 years)
- Safer Sleep (3-5 years)
National advice and information:
- Basis – baby sleep info source
- Breastfeeding companion
- Breastfeeding network
- First Steps Nutrition Trust
- Kelly Mom breastfeeding
- Lullaby Trust
- North West Human Milk Bank
- Stanford Medicine – newborn nursery
- Unicef
- NHS
National support is available from:
- National Breastfeeding Helpline – 0300 100 0212
- Association of Breastfeeding Mothers – 0300 330 5453
- La Leche League – 0345 120 2918
- National Childbirth Trust (NCT) – 0300 330 0700
Videos
Breastfeeding Basics Videos:
- Attachment
- Recognising Swallowing
- Different Positions
- Exaggerated Latch
- Breast Compressions
- Winding
- Laid Back Feeding
- Cherubs Breastfeeding – positioning and attachment and breast compressions
- Feeding in a Sling
- Breast Compressions
Increasing Milk Supply Videos:
Bottle Feeding Breastmilk Videos:
- Bottle Feeding a Breastfed baby
- Paced Feeding
- Expressing and storing breast milk – NHS
- Cherubs Breastfeeding – hand expression
- Flange sizing for Breast Pumps
Supporting women with learning disabilities to feed their babies
