News

Families in Redditch and Bromsgrove are set to benefit from enhanced breastfeeding support, with the launch of weekly drop-in groups at their local Family Hubs.

This change offers parents more regular and flexible opportunities to receive guidance and reassurance throughout their breastfeeding journey.

The groups run by Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, are designed to be warm and welcoming, led by experienced Infant Feeding Support Workers and supported by peer volunteers – mothers who have breastfed themselves and now share their own experiences to encourage and guide others.

At the sessions, families can access guidance on starting breastfeeding, expressing and storing breast milk safely, and avoiding or managing common feeding challenges.

Pregnant women and their families are encouraged to attend too – meeting the team and building a support network before their baby arrives.

Louise Langston, Service Manager for the 0-19 Public Health Nursing Service at Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, said: “We know every breastfeeding journey is different, and many families benefit from more frequent, accessible support. By offering weekly meetings in local Family Hubs, we hope to increase access to support, provide timely advice, and help mothers to develop strong peer networks within their local community.

“Many mums who have attended our groups have gone on to become breastfeeding peer support workers - using their lived experience to guide and support other parents on the same journey.”

The groups are held each week at the local Family Hubs, with sessions running at Redditch’s Holly Tree Family Hub on Tuesdays from 1:00pm to 2:30pm, and at Bromsgrove’s Pear Tree Family Hub on Wednesdays from 10:00am to 11:30am.

The Trust’s Infant Feeding Team provides specialist, non-judgemental support to mothers at every stage of their breastfeeding journey, while respecting and supporting all infant feeding choices.

While sessions are run as drop-ins, families are asked to email the team before their first visit to register their baby. Full details can be found on the Infant Feeding website or by contacting whcnhs.infantfeeding@nhs.net.

In addition to group support, families can also contact the Telephone Advisory Service (TAS) for advice on issues such as feeding, development, or toileting. Run by the Worcestershire Health Visiting Team, TAS is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am – 1:00pm and can be accessed by phoning 01905 520 032.