Breastfeeding groups

The breastfeeding groups must be run by family centre staff (BFI champion therefore level 3).

These groups are:  a chance for mums to meet other breastfeeding mums  to get comfortable with breastfeeding out and about  to gain information and support from trained family centre staff both postnatally and antenatally if required.

The focus of these groups is to help sustain breastfeeding long term therefore helping to build a network is key.

Please remember the following.  Log the attendees of these groups. This will help shape how we support parents across the county.  Complete a feeding plan if support is given to the parent. This can be used as a log of what has been advised previously. You can also write in the red book if the support is regarding the baby’s health.  Bottle-feeding information cannot be displayed and can only be given if a parent approaches you to discuss this (on a one to one basis).  Offering a drink and/or a biscuit can be a great ice-breaker in a group.

The family centre BFI champion will be able to offer information and support to parents during the groups based on the conversations they have with parents. If a query is beyond the knowledge of the champion, the parent can be referred to a voluntary agency (details found on the feeding your baby website) or health visitor specialist clinic (details can be found on the website and on the next page).

It can be useful to witness how other centres facilitate their breastfeeding groups; so why not arrange to attend another centres group and share good practice.

If you wish to discuss any of this further please feel free to contact Rebecca.Finnis@hertfordshire.gov.uk or [email protected]

Breastfeeding specialist support group – appointment only

This clinic is by appointment only, run by a health visitor. This clinic is for complex breastfeeding issues/tongue tie assessments. Please call the duty telephone number to book an appointment.

*Please note that this is updated regularly and is only valid as of the time of that it is published.

Current Venue Current Time Duty number Birchwood Family Centre Friday 01707 252461 Hatfield 13am – 14pm Bramble Hill Family Centre Friday 01763 257979 Buntingford 11am – 12pm Bridge Road Family Centre Wednesday 01438 845606 Stevenage 11.30am – 13pm Hertford Selections Family Centre Thursday 01992 823270 Hertford 13am - 15pm Hoddesdon Health Centre Monday 01992 474686 Hoddesdon 13.30am – 15pm Leavesden Green Community Hub Wednesday 01923 670587 Watford 10am - 11.30am London Colney Family Centre Thursday 01727 732002 St Albans 9am - 11.30am Orchard Family Centre Wednesday 01442 285837 Tring 09.30am - 12.30pm Oughton Family Centre Thursday 01462 492500 Hitchin 10.30am - 12.00pm St Georges Church Hall Monday 01442 454655 Hemel Hempstead 10am - 11:00am The BECC Family Centre Tuesday 02083 598520 Borehamwood 10.30am - 11.30am Waltham Cross Health Clinic Wednesday 01992 474686 Waltham Cross 9.30am – 11am Westfield Family Centre Tuesday 01923 234282 Watford 12.15pm - 13.15pm Windhill & Little Squirrels Family Wednesday 01279 827902 Centre 14pm - 15pm Bishop Stortford

Drop in’s

A pop in will be available alongside all well-baby clinics/child health clinics. The Drop in’s must be run by family centre staff that have been Level 3 trained (BFI champion preferably).

Drop in’s are set up in the waiting area of the child health clinics and offer families a chance to ask feeding advice from trained family centre staff and meet other mums and babies.

Please remember the following.

 Log the attendees of these groups. This will help shape how we support parents across the county.

 Offer a welcoming environment to families with blankets/mats for comfort and toys for children, as parents will then be more inclined to come back over after their appointment with the health visitor.

 Offering a drink and/or a biscuit can be a great ice-breaker in a group.

 Enter into conversations with families to break the ice; parents that feel you are approachable will be more likely to ask you for help/support.

 Refer families to the breastfeeding group if they need further support.

 Bottle-feeding information cannot be displayed and can only be given if a parent approaches you to discuss this (on a one to one basis).

If a query is beyond the knowledge of the level 3, the parent can be referred to the family centre run breastfeeding group, voluntary agency group (details found on the feeding your baby website) or health visitor specialist clinic (details can be found on the website and on the next page).

It can be useful to witness how other centres facilitate their Drop in’s; so why not arrange to attend another centres group and share good practice.

If you wish to discuss any of this further please feel free to contact [email protected] or [email protected]

Minimum requirements for a breastfeeding support group

There are two distinct types of groups offering breastfeeding support: social and specialist

Social support groups

Social support groups will offer general support, information and the opportunity to meet other breastfeeding mothers. The social support group may run alongside the specialist group in some areas. They offer face to face support without an appointment.

These groups will be required to have facilitators who have completed a recognised training programme:  completion of the two day Unicef Baby Friendly Breastfeeding and Relationship Building and continued completion of the annual one day Unicef BFI update (children’s centre staff)  Breastfeeding Network (BFN) breastfeeding helper course  NHS peer support programme  La Leche League breastfeeding peer support  National Childbirth Trust (NCT) breastfeeding peer support training  Association of Breastfeeding Mothers (ABM) mother supporter training.

Specialist support groups (For breastfeeding women with more complex needs)

The specialist support group will offer intervention for more complex breastfeeding issues: any breastfeeding dyad with an unresolved breastfeeding problem requiring more than basic positioning and attachment support.

These groups are by appointment only and are health visitor led. Appointments are made by the remote booking service currently in place. Referrals can be made by other practitioners and mothers can self-refer through the duty health visiting service.

Practitioners will need to demonstrate an enhanced level of training and expertise in breastfeeding management such as:  completion of the two day Unicef Baby Friendly Breastfeeding and Relationship Building  attendance to the Unicef BFI one day update annually.  completion of tongue tie training  if the practitioner holds the role of breastfeeding champion, key worker meetings are to be attended regularly and information to be shared with the HV team.  the breastfeeding champion may work alongside another HV in this setting with less experience but as a minimum has completed the tongue tie training facilitated by HCT.

All groups (social and specialist) are required to ensure the following requirements are met:

1. Staff training is updated Facilitators will need to show evidence of updating and developing breastfeeding knowledge and skills annually.

2. Co-compliance with the international code for the marketing of breast milk substitutes ‘The Code’ The venue and facilitators will need to be compliant with ‘The Code’.

3. Awareness of the referral pathways All facilitators will need to be aware and follow the referral pathways for their level. Children’s centre referral pathways Health visitor specialist pathway and tongue tie pathway.

4. Number of staff is appropriate to the needs of the group All facilitators should have completed breastfeeding training appropriate to their role. The manager of the group is responsible for providing adequate covered for the group they are providing. In breastfeeding social support groups: one practitioner may be less experienced and work alongside a practitioner from a voluntary organisation to encourage partnership working. Additional staff are available if required.

5. Document attendance of mothers at the support group. Individual support and information given should be recorded in the personal child health record (red book) Any professional can write in the personal child health record (red book) as long as it is appropriate to the child and you gain permission from the parent beforehand. The practitioner must sign and identify their role to acknowledge who has written it.

6. Completion of the feeding plan A plan should be completed with the mother identifying the key points of the consultation and feeding plans should be kept in the personal child health record (red book). Completion of the feeding plan will act as the referral into the specialist complex needs clinics. These plans will need to be followed up according to need.

7. Share contact information with mother. Ensure that the mother is aware of how to access further support.

A follow up appointment at the specialist clinic should be arranged if appropriate and the feeding plan updated to reflect this.

8. Provide evidence that the group is meeting the needs of the women. This can be through regular audit and evaluation.