Getting support when you breastfeed

How the baby’s father can support your breastfeeding

In the first few months, breastfeeding is time consuming for the mother as you need to offer your baby the breast between eight and 10 times a day. The father can’t feed your baby directly, but can still be very involved by helping you and caring for your baby.

The father can:

• make sure you and your baby are comfortable while feeding
• bring you a healthy snack and drink
• do housework and cook meals
• change nappies and bath your baby

Download the leaflet on how fathers can help with breastfeeding

Feeding your baby a bottle

After the first few weeks, when you and your baby are used to breastfeeding, the father can feed your baby with a bottle. Give your baby your expressed breast milk because it’s better than formula milk.

It’s important to wait until your baby is breastfeeding well before giving a bottle feed. Babies can get confused between feeding on the breast and sucking from a bottle.

Help with breastfeeding problems

If you are having problems breastfeeding, you can get help from health professionals in hospital or at home and support from local breastfeeding groups.

In hospital after the birth, your midwife can give you practical advice about breastfeeding. They can also visit you at home in the first month. After this, your health visitor will give you information and reassurance about breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding counsellors

Voluntary breastfeeding counsellors can give you telephone advice about breastfeeding problems.

• National Breastfeeding Helpline: 0300 100 0212 (9.30am–9.30pm)
• The Breastfeeding Network: 0300 100 0210
• Association of Breastfeeding Mothers: 0300 330 5453 (open 9.30am–10.30pm)
• La Leche League: 028 9581 8118 (24 hours)
• National Childbirth Trust: 0300 330 0700 (8am–Midnight)

La Leche League Local Breastfeeding Counsellors

La Leche League Breastfeeding Support - Local helpline 028 95818118

La Leche League Leaders are internationally accredited breastfeeding counsellors.

Currently hosting bi-monthly online meetings on the 2nd and 4th Friday at 9-30am to 11-30. Please phone the helpline 028 95818118 or message our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100080147831992 for logon details.  

Grainne is running face-to-face meetings in Maghera in the Northern Board on the 2nd and 4th Monday of the month. Please contact Grainne for details or see the facebook page.

We are also hosting a WhatsApp group.

Local Leaders are available on

• Pádraigín – 07786671176 (Belfast)
• Sarah – 07772317523 (Carrickfergus)
• Adele – 07816758780 (Enniskillen)
• Grainne – 07988712895 (Maghera)

The towns in brackets are where the Leaders live and not necessarily where they ran groups before the pandemic.

Breastfeeding peer support

In some areas, new mothers can talk to a breastfeeding peer supporter. They are mothers who breastfed their babies, want to help other mothers and have had training.

• Mum-to-Mum: 028 9504 4246 (Belfast Trust area)
• Mid-Ulster Mums: 028 8676 9994
• Mums 4 Mums: 028 2827 6044 (Larne area)
• Gold MUMS: 07801 413 576 
• South Eastern Trust Breastfeeding Peer Support: 07855 169 707

Use the interactive map below to search for breastfeeding support groups in your area.

Breastfeeding in public places

Some cafes, restaurants, shops and other businesses display a ‘Breastfeeding welcome here’ sticker in their window. 

As members of the Breastfeeding welcome here scheme, they agree:

• breastfeeding is acceptable in all areas of their premises that are open to the public
• they won’t ask a mother breastfeeding in a public area to stop or move
• all staff members will be aware of scheme membership and support breastfeeding mothers on their premises
• to display the ‘Breastfeeding welcome here’ window sticker and scheme membership certificate

Use the interactive map below to search for breastfeeding friendly businesses near you.