Breastfeeding Your Baby During COVID-19
There is a wealth of evidence that breastmilk and breastfeeding reduces the risk of babies developing infectious diseases. Mothers are encouraged to breastfeed directly whenever possible and maximise the amount of breastmilk they are able to provide. At present, there is no evidence that Covid-19 is transmitted through breastmilk. Infection can be spread to the baby in the same way as to anyone else.
Antenatal Breastfeeding Workshops and Support
Good news! Our antenatal breastfeeding workshop is back up and running from the comfort of your own home.
Join our virtual breastfeeding class on Thursday evenings 7-9pm. Recommended for couples who are around 34 weeks pregnant.
Postnatal infant feeding support also now available:
| Little Lights socially distanced infant feeding advice and peer support | Mondays 10.30-12.30 in Revive Coffee Shop 99 Guildford Street, Chertsey, UK KT16 9AS |
| Face to face infant feeding support clinic | Weybridge Maternity Hub. Appointment only, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for details |
| Virtual Attend Anywhere infant feeding support clinic | Fridays. Appointment only, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for details |
| Tongue tie clinic | Friday mornings in Blanche Heriot Unit, referrals only. Speak to your midwife to make a referral and your baby's feeding and tongue mobility will be assessed in the Wednesday face to face clinic first. |
Breastfeeding Workshop Videos
- Introduction
- Anatomy
- The Value of Breastfeeding
- Breastmilk Components
- Skin to Skin
- Positioning and Attachment
- Getting off to the Best Start
- Signs That Your Baby is Hungry
- Troubleshooting Problems
- Antenatal Colostrum Harvesting
Responsive Infant Feeding Workshop
This half day session is for women only around 30 - 33 weeks (preferably before 34 weeks) and is held from 9.30am-12.30pm in the Parent Education Room, Ground Floor Abbey Wing, St Peter’s Hospital.
This session is led by our infant feeding team and will aim to provide you with up to date information on breastfeeding.
To book a place please go to: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/ashford-amp-st-peters-hospital-maternity-service-18099755566
Breastfeeding Clinics and Support
For advice and support with breastfeeding please visit the Children and Family Health Surrey website via this link:
On the page, they have a map of local support groups with contact and session details. Sply click on a marker of your nearest venue or enter a post code to search.
Community Feeding Support
Due to current advice on social isolating we can no longer run our community infant feeding support groups.
Please email us with any questions and concerns about your baby’s feeding and include your telephone number: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
We can offer written, telephone and face to face video messaging support and additional required support can be arranged on a 1:1 basis if required.
Please make sure you have had at least two breastfeeds observed and are confident in independently latching your baby onto the breast before you are discharged home from hospital.
Useful Resources
- Best beginnings videos on breastfeeding, positioning and attachment
- Off to the Best Start leaflet on breastfeeding and how to know it is going well
- Hand expressing video
- Children's Health Surrey: Infant Feeding
- Breastfeeding ‘how to’ videos
- Breast pump loan (no charge to loan the pump but £10 to purchase a breast pump kit):
- Bottle feeding your baby