1* Whether you’re expecting your first baby or adding to your growing family, feeding your baby is an important and sometimes challenging – part of early parenthood. In Oxfordshire, families are supported by a rich network of services across the NHS, local authorities, and voluntary organisations, who can help make it easier. Here’s a guide to help you navigate the infant feeding journey from pregnancy through to your baby’s first birthday and beyond. During pregnancy, your midwife will discuss infant feeding options and offer resources to help you prepare, including an invite to antenatal classes. You can also access:
- Oxfordshire Breastfeeding Support (OBS): Free monthly online antenatal breastfeeding education sessions led by IBCLCs and breastfeeding counsellors.
- La Leche League Oxfordshire (LLL): Evening Zoom sessions and in-person meetings in East Oxford and Bicester. Visit LLL Oxfordshire
- Infant Feeding Support Hubs:Hosted by Health Visitors, these welcoming drop-in sessions can offer antenatal feeding advice. You will also be sent a letter by the 0-19 Service when you are 28 weeks pregnant, with information and resources.
2* When your baby is born you will be supported to have skin-to-skin contact and early and frequent feeding in hospital. Early Days Feeding classes are offered while you are on the post-natal ward, and you will be supported when you get home by your Community Midwives. If you need specialist support you can contact the Infant Feeding Clinic at the JR Hospital.
4* For many people raising children is easier within a community space and there are a number of voluntary groups around the county who also provide skilled infant feeding and social support to new parents in a welcoming environment. These are: La Leche League( LLL), Abingdon Breastfeeding Café, Wallingford Baby Bar, Didcot Baby Monday and Oxfordshire Breastfeeding Support. OBS also has a moderated Facebook Page you may find helpful and they can offer virtual support to families who can’t attend in person.
6* Sometimes parents who breastfeed have lots of milk and so they generously donate to the Oxford Milk Bank who provide milk to small and vulnerable babies around the county. If you would be interested in finding out more about donating please visit here.
Every family’s feeding journey is unique. Whether you’re breastfeeding, expressing, mixed feeding, or using formula, Oxfordshire’s services are here to support you. Don’t hesitate to reach out – help is just a call, click, or drop-in away.
3* When your baby is back to birth weight and feeding is established you will be discharged into the care of the 0-19 Service. A health visitor from this service will visit you at home and will carry out a feeding assessment. You will also be invited to a 4 week feeding review, and will be given an appointment for 6-8 weeks too. Your Health Visitor can provide you with Healthy Start Vitamins for you and your baby if you need them. You can drop in to one of their Infant Feeding Support Hubs any time you need support, or you can contact them on their ChatHealth text line. If you need specialist support after you have been discharged by your midwife they can refer you to their Enhanced Infant Feeding Service.
5* At around 6 months your baby will start to try solid foods, although milk will be their main source of nutrition up to a year, and many children continue to breastfeed beyond that. Families often have questions around this time. The Health Visitors with your 0-19 Service run Introduction to Solids workshops which you can attend. You can also drop in to their Well Child Clinics, or Infant Feeding Support Hubs to talk to someone. Some of the voluntary groups also offer weaning sessions too, so keep and eye out for them.
7* At 6-12 months you will be offered a Development Review for your child by the 0-19 Service. This provides an opportunity to talk about how feeding is currently going, and some families like to discuss and plan how they will feed their baby if returning to work. You can also visit the various drop-in services and voluntary groups around the county for support with this.
SUPPORT IN OXFORDSHIRE
NHS OUH Infant Feeding Clinic: 01865 572950
NHS Oxford Health 0-19 Service : https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/hv/0-1/feeding/
NHS 0-19 Service Chat Health ParentLine 0-4 years. Text: 07312263081
Milk Bank https://www.ouh.nhs.uk/maternity/feeding/milk-bank/s
Oxfordshire Breastfeeding Support: oxbreastfeedingsupport.org | team@oxbreastfeedingsupport.org
La Leche League Oxfordshire: llloxford.org.uk | leader@llloxford.org.uk | 07940 812964
Wallingford Baby Bar https://www.wallingfordbabybar.co.uk/
Didcot Baby Monday https://www.didcotbabymonday.co.uk/
National Breastfeeding Helpline: 0300 100 0212
