Antenatal and postnatal infant feeding support services
Antenatal breastfeeding information
Princess Anne Maternity Service run live workshops for pregnant people and their support partners to help them prepare for breastfeeding. You can book onto a workshop.
During your pregnancy, you are also welcome to pop along to a Family Hub and speak to one of our breastfeeding champions or come to one of our Breastfeeding Support Groups for antenatal information and to find out more about feeding your little one once they arrive.
You can view videos on preparing to breastfeed on the University Hospital Southampton website.
Breastfeeding Support Groups
Come along and meet other mums, parents and babies, and get support and information from Breastfeeding Network Peer Supporters and Volunteers and Family Hub breastfeeding champions at our Breastfeeding Support groups at Family Hubs across the city. No need to book, just drop in.
Visit our what's on page to find the timetable with the latest times for the Breastfeeding Support Groups.
The Family Hub Breastfeeding Champions:
Princess Anne Hospital maternity infant feeding services and additional breastfeeding support groups across the city
You can receive breastfeeding support during your stay at Princess Anne from the midwifery or neonatal teams and from Breastfeeding Network volunteers.
Whilst under midwifery care you can request infant feeding support by contacting the Infant feeding team on 07786 267584. Leave a clear voicemail stating what your call is regarding, your name and contact number, and a member of the team will aim to respond to your voicemail within 48 hours.
You can find out more about the midwifery Infant Feeding Team, a full list of community support groups across the city and Tongue-tie services on the University Hospital Southampton website.
Solent NHS Trust infant feeding services
Breastfeeding and infant feeding support is available to you, from before your baby is born, after your discharge from maternity services and at any time afterwards.
You can call the Health Visiting telephone support line on 0300 123 6661 and request feeding support. Please note that the opening times are Monday to Friday 08:30am until 16:30pm. Your breastfeeding support needs will be assessed, and you will be offered further face to face support at home as you need it from the Infant Feeding Support team.
For more information please visit Family Assist - Solent.
Pump loan service
Family Hubs, Solent NHS and Princess Anne Hospital collaborate to offer a free, short term, electric pump loan service for those families whom may need to express milk and maintain or grow their milk supply for a variety of reasons.
To request to loan a pump, contact the Princess Anne Hospital maternity infant feeding services on 07786 267584 if still under midwifery care. Otherwise contact Solent NHS Trust infant feeding services via 0300 123 6661 and request feeding support and pump loan.
You can find out how to assemble your pump set and how to clean your pump set.
You can return the pump to either Infant Feeding team or to one of the following Family Hubs locations:
- Blackberry
- Seashell
- Cutbush
- Honeysuckle
- Clovelly
- Pickles Coppice
Encouraging a release of the hormone oxytocin and a let-down of milk can aid successful expressing. Some things that can encourage a let-down:
- Feeling safe, secure and relaxed. Your environment can play an important role here
- Massage – gently massage from the very edge of your breast tissue (collar bone, under arm) down towards your nipple
- Having baby close by or something that reminds you or smells of them e.g. blanket, photograph
- Distraction – not focusing on what milk is being produced e.g. reading a book or watching a favourite show
It is important to store your breast milk safely if you are going to make use of it. The Breast Feeding Network has information on storing and using expressed breast milk.
There are various methods of giving expressed breastmilk to your baby. Ask your midwife for more info if thinking about syringe, spoon or cup feeding.
