Stumble It!Support groups
Please can you post details of support groups local to you here - as much info as you have, preferably personally verified, because we all know how demoralising it is to rock up to a community centre where there’s line dancing and indoor bowls going on instead of the bf support group you were expecting…
So, name of group (if there is one), address (preferably including postcode because I have Big Plans for this information!), frequency (weekly, fortnightly, etc) times of operation, any contact phone number(s) and anything else you can think of that might be useful (is there parking nearby, do they have a website, etc).
Thank you!
Edited 08.09.08: Superb, comprehensive list plus links to breastfeeding support groups and clinics across the UK from the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers
See also the listing of the Lactation Consultants of Great Britain
Breastfeeding Support Group, Whiston Hospital, Warrington Road, Prescot, Merseyside L35 5DR, runs every Friday morning from ten until twelve (and often later… we know sometimes very new Mums struggle to get out of the house so early!) phone number is 0151 290 4166, web link is http://www.sthk.nhs.uk/pages/Departments.aspx?iPageId=933.
There is parking in the hospital but sadly you do have to pay. The sessions are held in the parentcraft room in the basement.
There is a specialist breastfeeding midwife, a breastfeeding counsellor (through the ABM) many other breastfeeding mothers and La Leche League Peer Counsellors.
There is also an antenatal breastfeeding workshop in exactly the same place on the last Thursday of every month, between one and three. A specialist breastfeeding midwife runs the sessions and afterwards Peer Counsellors are also on hand to answer any questions about their experiences of breastfeeding and life with a new baby.
Both sessions have free tea, coffee and fennel tea.
Oh forgot to say Dads and grandparents are also more than welcome at either session.
And also forgot to say (sorry, too early in the morning for me) that you are welcome whether or not you have had / plan to have your baby in Whiston hospital!!
Kelty Breastfeeding Support Group, Kelty Church Hall, Station Road, Kelty, Fife, KY4 0BN. Every Monday, 1:30-2:30pm.
Support for breastfeeding mums or mums to be. A midwife or health visitor is on hand each week to help and there are usually a couple of peer supporters too. Tea and coffee are provided. Older children are welcome to come along and there are toys for them to play with, though they are expected to be reasonably quiet (no wild play!).
Entrance is either through the blue double doors, or with a buggy you can get in through the main church entrance.
The group has been a little bit quiet lately so there are talks of making adjustments to the structure or days/times but I will endeavour to update this ASAP following any change.
Breastfeeding Support and Information, Edinburgh
In the Birth Resource Centre, St Peter’s Place, off Gilmore place
10.30am -12.30pm
2nd Friday La Leche League baby group
4th Friday of the month La Leche League older baby and toddler
A drop in mother to mother support group.
Suggested donation £2 (£1 concession)
for tea and Biscuits
La Leche League Colchester, Essex
Meet on 2nd and 4th Friday of each month in the Quaker Meeting House, Church St (off Head St, near the Arts Centre). 10 am to 12 noon.
A lovely welcoming group in my experience. £1 donation is requested towards hall hire - tea / coffee / healthy snacks / toys for children all available at no charge.
La Leche League Leicester Monthly Breast Feeding Support and Discussion Meeting.
At the Friends Meeting House on Queens Road, Clarendon Park, Leicester every third Wednesday of the month, 10 - 12pm. Refreshments available. Library of breast feeding and parenting books for members and non members to use and borrow. Non members very welcome. Free (donation towards costs of room hire is appreciated though).
Breastfeeding and Peer Support Group - yes BAPS! Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
When & Where
We meet every Tuesday (except bank holidays) from 10.00am until 12.00am in the Hesters Way Childrens Centre, Hesters Way, Cheltenham.
If you want more details, ring Elizabeth (01452 813425, evenings).
Dads and older siblings welcome too. Elizabeth Mayo, midwife & BFC is on hand to offer support and advice at the group.
http://www.breastfeedingsupporters.org.uk/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=7
This website has more details plus details of all the other breastfeeding groups in Glos.
Baby Bistro is a friendly, free baby and toddler group run by Bosom Buddies who are experienced breastfeeding mothers.
Every Monday 10 - 12 at Charford Children’s Centre, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
Every Tuesday 10.30 - 12 at Cherry Trees Children’s Centre, Cherry Tree Walk, Batchley, Redditch, Worcestershire.
Older siblings are welcome - we have plenty of toys! Drinks are provided.
There is a baby cafe at Leasowe Early Years and Adult Learning Centre,
Twickenham Drive, Leasowe, Wirral, CH46 2QF
It’s on Tuesdays, ATM is 10.30-12pm, but will be changing to 10am soon, will update when I know more.
There is usually a health visitor there, if not there are peer supporters. It has a very friendly atmosphere. Free coffee, tea, water and snacks are provided, and older children are welcome (play area available).
Poplar Road Health Centre 58 Poplar Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham B14 7AG
0121 441 6300
This is a drop-in session on a Friday from 10.30am-2pm.
Health Visitor, and breastfeeding counsellors always available. Tea, coffee, water, squash, and baby toys.
http://www.southbirminghampct.nhs.uk/_services/public_health/EarlyYearsHealth/Feeding3.htm
Diss Health Centre Wednesdays 12 - 1.30pm. Drop in sessions, (sensible) Health Visitors available, refreshments provided.
Abingdon Baby Café
St Edmund’s Centre, Oxford Road, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 3PL
Thursdays 12 noon to 2pm
Contact: Sue Richards, Midwife
01235 530623 suerichards10@hotmail.com
http://www.thebabycafe.org/L/BC_Detail.php?ID=2
Staffed by midwives with special interest in bfing, health visitors (good ones) and volunteers, including peer supporters and NCT bf counsellors.
Coffee, tea biscuits etc for a voluntary donation.
Lots of people who bf but who don’t need actual help bring packed lunches and use it as a social event. People who haven’t given birth yet are welcome!
One hall has tables and chairs for people to eat / drink and chat, the other room is screened off with comfy sofas, spare pillows etc for people who want some privacy while they get help with latch /positioning etc.
Variety of books to borrow, also hire of breast pumps etc
Lots of buggy parking, small car park, lots of on-street parking nearby.
a group is held each tuesday morning at SURE START CENTRAL LINK, ST HELENS, mums drop in for a chat and children can play. everyone welcome, mums-to-be who are finding out about breastfeeding, new mums and mums with more than one child, it is an informal arrangement and all can drop in for info or socialising with other mums.
Other sure start childrens centres have la leche peer counsellors too, and also run groups in St Helens. Give your local centre a ring to check out what is going on near you.
The Breastfeeding circle is a monthly support group for breastfeeding women and their babies hosted by midwife Rocky May and Lactation Consultant Denise Pemberton.
An opportunity to share stories, exchange information and discover ongoing specialist and peer support. Join us for trouble shooting tips, answers to your questions, hot topic of the month and a decent cup of coffee. A bra fitting service and breast pump hire/sale is also available. All hosted in beautiful and relaxed surroundings.
It is the first Wednesday of every month (although no meeting Jan 2008) from 10.30 - 12.00
Telephone number for more information 0116 2702592
Email and general information: info@birthtalk.co.uk
COSTS £5 including gorgeous refreshments
Should have said that The Breastfeeding circle is in South Knighton, Leicester.
More information is available on their website http://www.birthtalk.co.uk/index.php:
Breastfeeding ‘Baby Cafe’ in Newcastle upon Tyne on Tuesdays 1030 - 1200.
Surestart Centre, Mountfield School, Kenton.
Haven’t yet been, but my community midwife told me about it, and I’m planning to go next week.
Peer counsellors & midwife available to offer advice & support.
Pregnant ladies and mothers & babies all welcome.
Free parking nearby in public car park.
Refreshments available.
Falkirk (and surrounding areas):
Polmont
Meadowbank Health Centre
01324 717920 (any HV)
Monday 11.00 - 12.00
Stenhousemuir
Stenhousemuir Health Centre
01324 562108/ 01324 554231 (Any HV)
Monday 12.30 - 2.00
Grangemouth
Community Education Centre (next to the swimming pool) Abbots Road
01324 489891 / 01324 482354 (any HV)
Tuesday 11.00 - 12.00
Falkirk
Dawson Centre, Davids Loan
01324 634017 (any HV)
Wednesday 1.15 - 3.00
(this is the one I go to. great space, big room with lots of toys for toddlers, plus matts etc for little’uns. Free tea, coffee and biscuits.)
Bo’ness
Bo’ness Health Centre, Dean Road, Bo’ness
01506 827701 (any HV)
Thursday 12.00 - 1.00
Denny
Denny Baptist Church Hall, Herbertshire Street, Denny
01324 827400 / 01324 822330 (any HV)
2nd and 4th Thursday of the month
1.45 - 2.45
Bonnybridge
Bonnybridge Health Centre, Larbert Road, Bonnybridge
01324 815105 (any HV)
Friday 2.15 - 4.00
****There’s a group EVERYDAY. If you need support or just a chat and a tea made for you please COME ALONG!!****
There is a Health Visitor at every group.
Bf Support Group
Easington Surestart
Whickham Street
Easington Village
County Durham
Wed 1.30 - 3.30
Limited parking on surrounding streets.
Have excellent resources which are lent on request.
Contact Ann Lindley or Pauline Coglan: 0191 586 5055
The centre itself has at least 2 HVs who are positive about baby led weaning and are keen to promote bf.
BF clinic at the Royal Berkshire Hospital (Reading) -
Royal Berkshire Hospital
London Road
Reading RG1 5AN
This is aimed at Post-natal women needing help and advice with breast-feeding their baby
Runs Monday to Friday from 10-12 (except bank holidays)
Drop in clinic so no need to book (but this does get very busy!)
There is parking at the hospital, and limited parking on local side streets (usually 2 hr limit)
There is a breastfeeding support group called Babies 2 Breast at Thatto Heath Children’s Centre, St Helens.
It runs Tuesday afternoon from one until three and is attended by peer counsellors.
Fruit and water are provided free of charge. No need to book.
Port Glasgow and Greenock
Mondays 10 - 1130 (HV Present)
Robert Street Resource Centre,
Montgomerie Street,
Port Glasgow.
Tuesdays 1300 - 1500 (Midwife Present)
Room 101,
James Watt College,
Waterfront Complex,
Greenock.
Wednesdays 1200 - 1430 (HV Present)
Gibshill Family Centre,
Smillie Street,
Greenock.
Thursdays 1200 - 1530 (BFN Counsellor Present)
Funworld Leisure Centre,
Fort Matilda Industrial Estate,
Eldon Street,
Greenock.
Baby Cafe at Northampton
Friends Meeting House
Wellington Street
Northampton
Meets every Friday except Bank Holidays
10:30 - 12:30
Call Carolyn on 01604 790496
With 2 excellent LLL counsellors, lovely friendly people, many extended B’Fers, great tea and cake and heaps of support. Dads and younger toddlers are always made welcome too.
Early Days
Alton Maltings Centre,
Maltings Close,
Alton,
Hampshire,
GU34 1DT
Wednesdays 10 - 12 am
Contact: Ruth
Telephone: 01420 544944
A friendly and informal drop-in group for new mums and babies up to 6 months. An NCT breastfeeding counsellor is on hand to help with any feeding queries. Bottle warming facilities available.Run by the NCT in conjunction with the local health visitors.
I’ve posted details of all the bf support groups I can find in outer southeast London at http://www.nct.org.uk/lewisham and will be keeping them up to date.
Thanks, everyone, for all the groups you’ve been posting.
A NEW drop-in service offering women advice about breastfeeding is launching in Worthing this month.
MILK!, a breastfeeding support group, has set up a drop-in service at The Wave Children’s Centre, in Dominion Road.
From April 23, women can drop in and chat, ask questions and get support every Wednesday between 10am and 11.30am.
MILK! is run by a group of local mums, who have personal experience of breastfeeding and have completed a 12-week training programme.
http://www.littlehamptongazette.co.uk/worthing-news/New-Worthing-dropin-service-for.3980958.jp
Breast Friends
Fridays, 1-3pm
All saints Children’s Centre (formerly SureStart) Chatham
We are a friendly group comprising 2 community midwives, a number of Peer Supporters and lots of BFing Mums.
tea, coffee, fruit juice and biscuits are available.
just a note that the Falkirk group has changed to Tuesday 11:30 - 1:30 still the same venue.
Listing of lots of support groups here:
http://abm.me.uk/Groups%20and%20Clinics.htm
‘Newton Breast Friends’. Newton-Le-Willows Breast Feeding Support group. Held at Newton-Le-Willows Children’s Center, Patterson Street, St Helens, WA12 9PZ
Every Friday between 9.30 and 10.30 am, a friendly group of breast-feeding Mums and La Leche train Peer Councillors.
Come and join us! For more information contact the Children’s’ center on
01744 672 036, or to speak to a Peer Councillor please call 0750 66 44 357.
I know Ireland is a whole other country
But it can be hard to find info on Ireland on the web, so if any of your readers are Irish, here is a fairly comprehensive list of breastfeeding support groups (Cuidiu, PHN and LLL) - http://www.breastfeeding.ie/contacts.php on the HSE’s website. Hope you don’t mind me butting in!
Ah, brilliant! No, don’t mind you butting in at all - the more the merrier! Thanks for that!
BfN support groups here:
http://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/support-centres.html