Local breastfeeding support

The National Breastfeeding Helpline is open 24 hours a day every single day of the year, offering non-judgemental, evidence based, friendly breastfeeding support and information to anyone in the UK who needs it on 0300 100 0212. The National Breastfeeding Helpline also has webchat. It is a confidential one-to-one secure online chat with a trained breastfeeding supporter. If you see the ‘Chat currently closed‘ sign it means there are no volunteers available to chat at the moment. Please try again later or visit their Facebook or Instagram accounts where you can message one of their volunteers who will get back to you as soon as possible (from 9.30am to 9.30pm) Support is also available in Welsh and Polish via the National Breastfeeding Helpline (9.30am to 9.30pm) – call 0300 100 0212 and press 1 for Welsh and 2 for Polish.

Support via text

You can text your local Health Visiting Team on 07312 263368 for a quick answer to anything that's bothering you, however you are feeding your baby. Find other ways to contact Health Visiting at Kent Baby.

Before baby arrives

Find out more about developing a close relationship with your baby and understanding responsive feeding however you choose to feed your baby with an NHS Ready for baby course. Partners are very welcome to attend. Supporting you to develop a close relationship with your baby, feed your baby responsively, however you choose to feed them and know when feeding is going well.

Find out more about your baby's feeding cues, the benefits of skin-to-skin, feeding choices, what's in a nappy, responding to baby and your baby's brain development. Sessions are based on UNICEF Baby Friendly information and led by trained NHS staff and volunteers. Visit Kent Baby for all dates and to book your place in a virtual group or in-person session.

The Infant Feeding Team in Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells offers a monthly online antenatal session.

The new Bump, Birth and Beyond website is packed with friendly and helpful advice for parents-to-be in Kent and Medway on pregnancy, birth and the first days of parenting. Parents in Medway can visit Beside You Medway for details of support.

Local breast pump hire

You could get a free handpump or loan an electric pump for a set period if you are entitled to the healthy start scheme, if your baby arrived early or has been unwell from local Family Hubs. Visit the Family Hub website for more details of the scheme.