Breastfeeding in Bristol

Local and online support groups and resources, helplines, the Bristol Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme.

Although we say mother, woman and breastfeeding on this page, we understand that not everyone uses these terms. We support any parent with any aspect of feeding their baby.

How you feed your baby from birth to age 2 is critical to their healthy growth and development.

Breastfeeding has many health benefits for both mother and baby, and skin-to-skin contact can be an important bonding experience.

We know that most mums start out breastfeeding, but some women have difficulties and need support to make sure that breastfeeding is working well for them and their baby.

Some parents also choose to bottle feed using formula or expressed breastmilk. This can be in addition to or instead of breastfeeding.

Local support with feeding your baby

People who can support you if you're breastfeeding, bottle feeding or both include:

your midwife
your health visitor
Children's Centre staff
peer supporters
your GP

Any of these professionals can refer you for specialist support if you need it.

Local breastfeeding support groups

You can go to any of the groups if you're:

pregnant
breastfeeding
feeding your baby any amount of breastmilk

People at the groups can include:

peer supporters
breastfeeding counsellors
Children's Centre staff

Breast pumps

You can hire an electric breast pump directly from the manufacturer.

The specialist feeding service has a small number of electric breast pumps. We loan these to families on a short term basis, and only to those most in need.

If you need to borrow a breast pump from the specialist feeding service, ask your breastfeeding support worker, health visitor or midwife.

Baby hubs at Bristol Children's Centres

You can come to any of the baby hubs at Bristol Children's Centres to meet other parents and chat to a member of the Health Visiting Team. You can get support and information on lots of topics, including feeding your baby.

To find out when baby hubs are running, check the Children's Centre timetables:

Bristol Children's Centres Infant Feeding Team

Our trained breastfeeding peer supporters provide a respectful, supportive service. They have lots of experience in helping parents to feed their babies.

Our team can discuss all aspects of feeding your baby. We support parents who live in the following areas of the city:

Avonmouth and Lawrence Weston
Brentry and Henbury
Southmead
Filwood
Stockwood
Hengrove and Whitchurch Park
Bishopsworth
Hartcliffe and Withywood

Peer supporters

A peer supporter is usually a mother who has:

experience of breastfeeding or expressing milk for her baby or babies
been trained to support other parents

Peer supporters can give you information and help before and after your baby is born. You may meet peer supporters:

in breastfeeding support groups
on a local Facebook page
in an online group

To contact your local peer supporter:

ask your midwife or health visitor
visit our Bristol Children's Centres Infant Feeding Team Facebook page.

For more information, email ccinfantfeedingservice@bristol.gov.uk

Film about local breastfeeding support

The Bristol Breastfeeding Community short video shows parents in South Bristol talk about the importance of the support they've had from family, friends, breastfeeding groups and when feeding out and about.

Infant feeding books in Bristol libraries

Bristol libraries have lots of books you can borrow for free on all aspects of infant feeding:

breastfeeding
expressing breastmilk
bottle feeding
introducing solid food

View the selection of books available here: pdf Infant feeding books in Bristol libraries(65 KB)

Online support

Bristol Breastfeeding Mummies: a volunteer-run Facebook group where you can get informal support and encouragement.

Black Mothers Matter offer one to one online breastfeeding support.

Helplines

National breastfeeding helpline

Phone: 0300 100 0212

Support is also available in Polish and Welsh on this number.

For support in Bengali and Sylheti, call: 0300 456 2421

Lines are open 24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Web chat, social media support and language lines in Welsh, Polish, Bengali and Sylheti are available from 9.30am.

You can also talk online to a breastfeeding counsellor.

The Start4Life Breastfeeding Friend can answer questions at any time. It's available on:

Facebook Messenger
Amazon Alexa
Google Assistant

NCT: support for all parents, however you feed your baby.
Feeding support line: 0300 330 0770 (option 1)
Lines are open from 8am to midnight, 7 days a week.

La Leche League helpline
Phone: 0845 120 2918
Lines are open from 8am to 11pm, 7 days a week.

Health Links: for people in Bristol who speak English as a second language.
Telephone: 0117 902 7115 or 07900 264 435
Email: healthlinks@nhs.net
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Languages spoken: Arabic, Bengali, Cantonese, Hindi, Mandarin, Punjabi, Somali, Sylheti, Urdu. Email or call if you need a different language.

Bristol Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme

The Bristol Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme aims to support mothers to breastfeed when they're out and about with their babies.

Hundreds of local venues and services, including cafes, restaurants, buses, visitor attractions and community settings have signed up to the scheme to demonstrate that they're breastfeeding friendly. Look out for the Breastfeeding Welcome logo when you're out and about.

Find Breastfeeding welcome venues

Become a Breastfeeding Welcome venue.