NHS Grampian offer breastfeeding support at every level. From pregnancy, looking for information, through to moving on from breastfeeding, we can support you to meet your personal goals.

To access our Peer Support service, please contact us by sending an e-mail to gram.breastfeedingsupport@nhs.scot.

Whether you are pregnant or your baby has arrived and want to discuss infant feeding and access support, we can offer this via e-mail, phone, NHS Near Me (video call), 1:1 community support or via community groups (see below for more details).

For more information, please see our breastfeeding support page.

Breastfeeding is a dynamic interaction between a mother /parent and her baby. Responsive feeding differs from demand or baby led feeding by taking the emphasis away from food alone, as breastfeeding is comforting and calming for both mother / parent and baby.

Mothers / parents and babies have instincts that should be encouraged and supported by enabling them to spend time in uninterrupted skin to skin contact immediately after birth and throughout the postnatal period. Breastfeeding has short and long term health benefits for both mother / parent and baby.

NHS Grampian is UNICEF Baby Friendly accredited and recommends that babies are exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life, followed by a nutritious diet and ongoing breastfeeding for up to two years and beyond.

The more confident a mother / parent feels in their ability to breastfeed their baby, the greater the chance that they will continue breastfeeding for longer.

With support, the majority of women / parents can breastfeed. Lots can be done to support confidence in their own bodies and their ability to responsively breastfeed. Alongside the professional support a breastfeeding mother receives from their midwife and health visitor/family nurse, their partner, family and friends have a very important role to play by encouraging them and boosting their confidence. We also offer a breastfeeding peer support service where volunteers who have breastfed their own baby provide friendly, competent and proactive support within their community.

 

Published: 23/07/2024 09:22