Information and support for local families
Many women tell us they are keen to breastfeed their babies and those who do often enjoy the experience. We also know that some mums find the first few weeks a struggle, but with the right information and friendly support, they are able to breastfeed their babies for as long as they choose to. There is lots of help, information and support available from your midwife, health visitor and from Medway Breastfeeding Network.
Medway Breastfeeding Network is made up of local mums who have breastfed their own babies and had extra training so that they can give information and support to other mums. A new baby brings lots of questions.
Peer supporters can help you:
• feel confident that your baby is getting enough milk
• understand what to expect in the first few days
• find comfortable positions and recognise good attachment
• learn how to express and store your breastmilk safely
We want to make sure you enjoy breastfeeding your baby for as long as you wish to. Our drop-in sessions are a great place to go if you have any questions, concerns or just want a chat with other breastfeeding mums. Sessions are listed below and in your Red Book.
Local Breastfeeding drop-ins
Drop-ins offer a warm welcome to women who are interested in breastfeeding, whether pregnant, with a new baby or an experienced breastfeeding mum and are a great place to go if you have any questions, concerns or just want a chat with other breastfeeding mums.
They are organised by women who are committed to supporting and promoting breastfeeding. You can contact Peer Supporters using the phone numbers listed below but as they are volunteers with their own families they may not be able to answer your call straight away. Sometimes drop-in times can change so please ring ahead beforehand to check.
For further information please call 07908 817569 / 01634 331054 or email ifp@medway.gov.uk
Mondays
Mother and Baby Breastfeeding Clinic - 9.30am – 12 noon
Antenatal Clinic (Level 2), Green Zone, Medway Maritime Hospital, Gillingham, ME7 5NY.
Felicia: 07717 302972. Wendy: 07908 815709.
The drop-in offers 1:1 help from hospital and communityInfant Feeding Coordinators. Please bring your baby’s ‘Red Book’ when you attend.
Milk and Biscuits - 10am – 12 noon
Gun Lane Children’s Centre, Gun Lane, Strood, ME2 4UF.
Strood Peer Supporter: 07507 448648. Children’s Centre: 01634 717115.
Tuesdays
Brompton Bumps2Boobs - 9am – 10.30am
Brompton Children’s Centre, Kings Bastion, Brompton, Gilliingham, ME7 5DQ.
Peer Supporter: 07833 714319. Children’s Centre: 01634 844152.
La Leche League - Rochester - 10am – 12noon
2nd & 4th Tuesdays of the month. St Luke’s Church Centre, City Way, Rochester, ME1 2BQ. 01634 304203.
La Leche League - Rainham - 10am – 12noon
1st & 3rd Tuesdays of the month. Riverside Children’s Centre, St Edmunds Way, Rainham, ME8 8ET. 01634 338700.
Wednesdays
Tums 2 Mums - 9.30am – 11.30am
Hand in Hand Children’s Centre, Twydall Lane, Twydall, Gillingham, ME8 6JS.
Peer Supporter: 07507 448662. Children’s Centre: 01634 365985.
Mother Love - 9.30am – 11.30am
Chattenden Community Centre, Swinton Avenue, Chattenden, ME3 8PH.
Peer Supporter: 07507 451341. Children’s Centre: 01634 270341.
Thursdays
‘Little Acorns’ Breastfeeding - 10am – 12pm
St Mary’s Island Community Centre, Island Way West, St Mary's Island, Chatham, Kent, ME4 3SW.
Health Visitor - 1st Thursday of every month. Peer Supporter present weekly.
Peer Supporter: 07507 459425.
Bosom Buddies - 1pm – 2.45pm
Kingfisher Children’s Centre, Kingfisher Drive, Princes Park, ME5 7NX.
Peer Supporter: 07507 456972. Children’s Centre: 01634 335850.
Breastfeeding Drop-in - 1pm – 3pm
Sunlight Centre, Richmond Road, Gillingham, ME7 1LS.
Peer Supporter: 07507 458024. Wendy: 07908 815709.
Breastfeeding Drop-in - 1pm - 2.30pm
Bligh Children's Centre, Bligh Way, Strood, Kent, ME2 2XJ
Peer Supporter: 07507 459425. Children's Centre: 01634 336220
Fridays
Breastfeeding Drop-in - 11am - 12pm
Rochester Community Hub, Off Rochester High Street/Corporation Street, Next to Eastgate House,
Peer Supporter: 07507 448749. Community Hub: 01634 337411
Feeding Friends - 1pm – 2.30pm
Deanwood Children’s Centre, Long Catlis Road, Parkwood, Rainham, ME8 9TX.
Peer Supporter: 07507 457303. Children’s Centre: 01634 231901
Breast Friends - 1pm – 3pm
All Saints Children’s Centre, Magpie Hall Road, Chatham, ME4 5JY.
Peer Supporter: 07507 458622. Children’s Centre: 01634 338833.
For other sessions in the rest of Kent, visit this website.
Other sessions where you can see a Peer Supporter:
Mondays
Little Ones Group - 1.30pm - 3pm
Lordswood Children's Centre, Lordswood Lane. Chatham. Kent. ME5 8NN
Support available first Monday of the month. Session is for babies under 12 months.
Tuesdays
Child Health Clinic - 9.30am - 11.30am
Delce Children's Centre, Delce Infant School, Fleet Road, Rochester, Kent ME1 2QA.
Support Available weekly.
Toddler Biz - 10am - 11.30am
Saxon Way Children's Centre, Holt Cottage, Church Path, Gillingham ME7 1SJ
Support Available weekly.
Fridays
Baby Group - 10am - 11.30am
Saxon Way Children's Centre, Holt Cottage, Church Path, Gillingham ME7 1SJ
Support Available weekly.
Pregnancy Evenings
Are you pregnant? Have you thought about how you want to feed your baby? Come along to the Pregnancy evenings to meet some of our Peer Supporters who can answer any niggling questions you have about breastfeeding! You can also meet a range of other people who will help look after you during your pregnancy and after your baby is born.
12th March 2012, 14 May 2012, 9 July 2012, 10 September 2012, 12 November 2012 - Temple Mill Children's Centre Pregnancy Evening (6.00pm - 8.00pm)
9th April 2012, 11th June 2012 - Woodlands Children's Centre Pregnancy Evening (7.00pm - 9.00pm)
National and local sources of support
National Breastfeeding Helpline - 0300 100 0212 - 9:30am – 9:30pm
Association of Breastfeeding Mothers - 08704 017 711 - 9:30am – 10:30pm - www.abm.me.uk
La Leche League - 24 hour - 08451 202 918 - www.laleche.org.uk
NCT - 8:00am – 10:00pm - 0300 330 0771 - www.nct.org.uk
Other useful places for breastfeeding information:
NHS - www.breastfeeding.nhs.uk / www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk - 0845 4647
Best Beginnings - http://www.bestbeginnings.org.uk/
UNICEF / WHO (Includes tongue tie division) - www.babyfriendly.org.uk
LCGB: Find a private Lactation Consultant, IBCLC(Includes tongue tie division) - http://www.lcgb.org/consultants_local.html
LLL International (FAQs) - http://www.llli.org/FAQ/FAQSubject.html
Local Breastfeeding Counsellors: For confidential help with breastfeeding
The following Breastfeeding Counsellors are from local charities including La Leche League, Association of Breastfeeding Mothers (ABM), and the Breastfeeding Network. These are local women who answer calls in their own homes so please call before bedtime unless your call really cannot wait. If none of the local Counsellors are at home to answer your call then you could phone the National Helplines listed above instead.
La Leche League
Jane - 01634 304203 / Alison - 01364 815915 / Sarah - 01634 845833 / Deborah - 01634 814221 / Vicky - 01634 366324 / Mirjam - 01622 720142 / Rebecca - 01622 200360 / Sarah S - 01795 874333
LLL Website - www.lllrochester.org.uk
LLL Chats and Forums: http://forums.llli.org/ and http://www.llli.org/chat/aimchat.html
Association of Breastfeeding Mothers
Sally - 01634 880352
Breastfeeding Network
Jayanthi - 07501 466817 (support for people who speak Tamil, Telugu and Hindi)
Information on slings
Medway NCT Sling Library Group
Group for babywearing discussions including the benefits, types of slings / carriers and where to buy.
Information about the Medway NCT Sling Library is also available here including hires and where we will be available for demos.
Local breast pump / cushion hire
Local breast pump / cushion hire
Local Ardo / Ameda Breast Pump Hire Agents:
Rochester NCT Frances 01634 787324
Rochester NCT Amanda 01634 832074
Maidstone NCT Rachel 01622 727322
National Breast Pump Hire: Ardo / Ameda 01823 336362
http://www.ardomums.co.uk/shop/item/Hospital-Grade-Dual-Electric-Breast-Pump-for-Hire
Valley Cushion Hire Agent: (For when it hurts to sit on a damaged perineum to feed baby)
Rochester NCT Amanda 01634 832074
Rochester NCT Frances 01634 409480
Nursing Bra Fitting
Pregalicious offer a FREE, no obligation to buy home bra measuring and fitting service for ladies who live within a 25 mile radius of Maidstone. They are happy to visit any expectant or nursing mum, at a time and place convenient to them. They often have special offers on certain bras and offer a 5% discount on any home visit.
They stock bras from three different ranges, Anita, Bravado and Hotmilk. There are over 80 different styles of bras to choose from over these ranges and the sizes offered go from a 30B - 46J. Prices start at £18.00
More information can be found on their website.
Follow us on Twitter - www.twitter.com/@abettermedway
To top of page
