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Our Infant Feeding Team in Barnardos are here to support you on your feeding journey and include a small team of Infant Feeding Outreach Workers and a network of trained Peer Support Volunteers.

They will be there to support you to achieve your feeding goals, whether that be breastfeeding for 2 weeks or 2 years, from initiating breastfeeding, to weaning from the breast or responsively bottle feeding your baby.

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A number of Breastfeeding Support Groups, know as Latch On Groups, are run across the city throughout the week. These groups are supported by Peer Supporters who have completed a 8 week course and are able to support you to achieve your breastfeeding goals.

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Our High View Latch On Group

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Breastfeeding can be a tricky skill to navigate with lots of contradicting advice available on multiple platforms.

In this section we have shared a number of resources to help support you to successfully breastfeed your baby. This is the most up to date information on Breastfeeding, created by our Infant Feeding Team and Unicef.

Don't forget our Latch On groups are also available 6 days a week, where our trained Peer Supporters can check you latch and offer information and support face-to-face.

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Infant milks for parents & carers — First Steps Nutrition Trust

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First Steps Nutrition Trust is a charity which provides clear, evidence-based and independent information and support for good nutrition from pre-conception to five years of age.

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Welcome to Barnardos Infant Feeding Page. 

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Welcome to Barnardos Infant Feeding Page. 

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Here you will find information and support for you feeding journey, whether that be Breast, Bottle or Combi-Feeding.

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Please Note: This is a TERM TIME timetable of all Latch On Groups across Plymouth and the wider area. For the most up to date details on groups running, please head to the Latch On Facebook Page (Details Below)

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Hi, I'm Laura and I'm the Infant Feeding Coordinator with Barnardos.

My role is to oversee the development of the Latch On Groups and Peer Support Workers that support these. I also support our Infant Feeding Team with their outreach and community work and am the UNICEF BFI lead for Family Hubs across the city.

I have worked for Barnardos for nearly 10 years and have a background in Early Years. When starting with Barnardos the opportunity came up to be Peer Support trained and, as Infant Feeding was something I was passionate about, I couldn't wait to develop my knowledge on this. In my time at Barnardos I have supported many Latch On groups and families on their feeding journey, as well as supporting our other groups and being part of the Outreach Team.

When not at work, and not running after my three boys, I enjoy spending time playing the piano and being outdoors whether at the beach or on the moors.

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Hi, I am Mandy and I am an Infant Feeding Support Worker with Barnardos Family Hubs.

My role is to make feeding journeys for your baby/child and parents a rewarding experience.

I am there supporting in any way I can in, Latch On groups, telephone calls, one-to-one and out in the community.

In my spare time I enjoy spending time with family and friends, travel, DIY and renovating.

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Hi , I'm Jackie and I am an Infant Feeding Outreach Worker with Barnardos.

I'm a Mum of 4 and Granny of 2. I used to be a Nurse in the Obstetric & Gynaecology Theatres at Derriford Hospital and assisted in delivering many babies by c-section and caring for their Mum's in recovery before they returned to the ward.

I was an Outreach Support Worker for the Plymouth Sure Start Plus Project supporting young parents and their children in Plymouth. I did my Peer Support training with Plymouth Latch On in 2007 and again 2024 and volunteered at Plymstock Clinic and Children's Centre for several years.

I am passionate about parents having all the information to be able to make an informed choice about how they feed their baby, having the support they need to meet their own infant feeding goals and about normalising breastfeeding in the local community.

I love spending time at my caravan on the North coast of Cornwall, spending time socialising with friends and family on the beach, paddleboarding, cold water swimming and cooking for my family.

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Hi, my name is Katie. I'm an Infant Feeding Worker passionate about helping families navigate their feeding journeys with confidence and care.

I work within the community, providing face-to-face, outreach, and telephone support — whether in your home or at our Family Hubs. Creating a compassionate and non-judgmental space is incredibly important to me, ensuring that you feel heard, supported, and empowered with the knowledge and confidence to make the best decisions for both yourself and your baby.

In my spare time, I enjoy traveling, going to the gym, and exploring new places.

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Here you can find support, information and advice, as well as the most up to date information on what groups are running across Plymouth and the wider area.

Give them a Like and a Follow! 👍

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All of our Peer Support Workers are volunteers and have completed a 10 week course around Breastfeeding and how parents and families can be supported.

If this is something you are interested in doing then please click the link or call Laura on, 07715234304.

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Our Children’s Services volunteers help Barnardo’s to deliver essential services in local communities, providing support to over 300,000 children, young people & their families. This role provides a great opportunity to make a real difference.

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The above video shows how to effectively latch baby to the breast

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Unicef UK Baby Friendly Initiative | Positioning and attachment

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This video explains what an ineffective latch may look like and how this can impact on breastfeeding your baby

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Unicef UK Baby Friendly Initiative | Poor attachment

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Click the link to head to Plymouth Latch On's website to find more information on breastfeeding and to access a map of breastfeeding friendly areas of the city for when you are feeding out and about

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Welcome to Plymouth Latch on Breastfeeding Groups Here is our new face to face timetable for all Latch on groups If you require any feeding support, whether you are breast feeding, combination feeding, formula feeding or would like to re-lactate this is still readily available.

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How do I know my baby is getting enough milk?

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How do I know my baby is getting enough milk?

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Everything you need to know about expressing and storing your breast milk, including tips on hand expressing and electric breast pumps, and how to freeze, defrost and warm breast milk.

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Many mothers work outside the home and continue to breastfeed. LLLGB is here to help with information and support if you are going back to work.

I'm going back to work. Do I need to stop breastfeeding?
Why is breastfeeding so important?
But won't it be a hassle?
What are my options? Choose childcare carefully Consider expressing your milk Solid foods Making it work Somewhere to express Before you return to work Expressing
Working and breastfeeding Further reading

I'm going back to work. Do I need to stop breastfeeding?

There is no need to stop breastfeeding when you return to work. Returning to paid work doesn't prevent you from breastfeeding your baby. Depending on the nature of your job and the age of your baby, you'll probably need to adjust your nursing relationship. You'll also need to talk to your employer, but time away from your little one doesn't mean breastfeeding has to end. Continuing to nurse may be even more important to you both as you adjust to big changes in your lives. Mothers choose to continue breastfeeding for their babies' health and because breastfeeding is good for the whole family. It provides easy feeding on days at home and a warm way to reconnect at the end of a long day for mother and child. It's well worth planning how to balance breastfeeding with your work routine.

Why is breastfeeding so important?

Your milk alone is vital to your baby during the first six months of life, and continues to be an important part of his diet until 12 months and beyond. Formula just doesn't compare. As well as meeting nutritional needs, breastmilk is packed with antibodies-particularly important if your little one will be spending time in nursery or with a childminder. And when you are together, making time to reconnect through snuggling up and nursing will be even more meaningful. You'll miss each other when you're apart.

But won't it be a hassle?

Being a working mother will be challenging, but breastfeeding can make life easier. Ending the breastfeeding relationship may appear at first to be the simplest solution, but with the increased risk of illness, plus the effort involved in buying, preparing and storing formula, weaning may ultimately be the real hassle. Also consider that your baby will eventually outgrow the need to nurse. Most mothers reduce and stop pumping before their babies stop breastfeeding.

What are my options?

Your options depend on the age of your baby and the nature of your job. You can start planning before your baby is born. Gather ideas from any co-workers who breastfed their babies. Studies show that the longer you wait before returning to work, the easier the transition will be for both you and your baby.

Consider your employment flexibility and workday practicalities:

Can you extend your maternity leave, request part-time or flexible working hours, or an extended lunch hour?

Are you able to work from home for all or some of the time, or even bring your baby to work?

Can you break up your working week, perhaps working alternate days, so your baby is not away from you several days in a row?

Shorter workdays may be easier to manage, with less pumping for you and fewer missed breastfeeds for your baby.

Or you may prefer fewer but longer workdays, with more full days at home with your baby.

Choose childcare carefully

Having your baby nearby may allow you to go and nurse him during your lunch hour. Or maybe someone could bring him to you? Look for carers who are supportive of and knowledgeable about breastfeeding. It's important they respect your decision to provide only your milk for your baby.

Consider expressing your milk

You can use a good quality electric pump or learn to hand express. This is especially important if your baby is less than a year old. Expressing milk will enable you to maintain milk production as well as ensuring your baby can still receive your milk whilst you're apart. If you decide not to express your milk at work you can still continue breastfeeding when you're at home. You may need to express at first to avoid the discomfort of engorgement and the risk of mastitis.

Solid foods

Once your baby is eating more solid foods, he will need less expressed milk while you are away. But your baby will enjoy your yummy milk once you get home again!

Making it work

I don't want to wean, but I'm sure my employer will want me to!
This is one time when your employer can't tell you what to do! Daunting as it may seem, it's important to tell your employer about your need to express milk for your baby. Depending on what is available in your workplace, you may find it helpful to speak to someone from the human resources department, a health and safety representative and/or your trade union representative before speaking to your line manager. Employers are legally required to do a health and safety risk assessment for breastfeeding mothers, so you'll need to notify them in writing a few weeks before you return to work. Explain that being able to pump regularly will reduce any risk of you becoming engorged and developing mastitis.

Research shows it's a win-win situation if breastfeeding is supported and therefore continues: you'll feel positive about your company and your job satisfaction will increase-along with your willingness to work hard! Your employer will gain from your hard work and, because your baby will have breastmilk's infection protection, you're likely to take less time off.

For more information on your rights, and what employers are required to do to support you, see:
Maternity Action and their guidance on Breastfeeding at Work
ACAS: accommodating breastfeeding in the workplace
The Health & Safety Executive: Protecting pregnant workers and new mothers

Somewhere to express

You'll want to request somewhere private to express your milk, preferably with a door that can be locked. It helps to have access to electricity for your pump, a fridge and running water. A comfortable place to sit and a table for your pump and other supplies are also important. Bathrooms and toilets are not suitable. Employers are legally required to provide suitable facilities for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers to "rest". Although, they are not required by law to provide a private and safe place to express and store milk, the Health and Safety Executive recommend that they do. All employers must carry out a risk assessment so it would be very difficult for them to refuse. Be very clear about what you want to do and what you need. And do point out that expressing is something that, depending on the age of your baby, you may only need to do for a few months.

Before you return to work

Attend LLL meetings to meet other breastfeeding mothers in your area. You can offer each other vital support when breastfeeding, pumping, mothering or working becomes challenging.

Practise pumping or hand expressing to learn what works for you. You can freeze the small amounts of milk you collect to use for your first few days back at work and to give you a small back-up supply. Once you're missing feeds, the amount of milk you can pump will incre se and your baby can have fresh milk from the previous workday. Fresh milk retains more nutrients and immune factors.

Wait to introduce a bottle until just before you start back to work. Making breastfeeding a priority while you are at home will help you avoid feeding problems. An older baby may never need a bottle. Milk can be given in a cup or mixed with solid food.

Make your return to work easier by starting back on a Thursday or Friday. At the weekend, rest and prepare for any challenges you didn't anticipate. Make changes if your first strategy doesn't suit you or your baby.

Expressing

It's usually best to express milk at least every three hours while you are away from your baby. You may need to pump or express your milk more frequently at first so you don't feel uncomfortably full or start to leak. Be sure to include commuting time when deciding how often to pump. If you feel the tingling of your milk beginning to flow, pressing hard on your nipples for several seconds can prevent leaking. This can be done discreetly by crossing your arms tightly across your chest and pressing firmly on your nipples with the palms of your hands. Hold for a few seconds before releasing and all should be well. If it doesn't work first time, try again for a little longer. But bear in mind that if your breasts feel full, this is a sign you need to express some milk. With time you'll have fewer problems with leaking.

Working and breastfeeding

It can be so rewarding to continue to nurse your baby after returning to work. It's a wonderful way of reconnecting after a day apart. LLL meetings can continue to be a good source of support after you return to work. If you're unable to attend every meeting, your local LLL Leader can still listen to any concerns you have and offer support.

Written by Sue Upstone & Mothers of LLLGB.

Further reading

Working and Breastfeeding
Workday practicalities
If you leave your baby
When mum can't be there
Expressing your breastmilk
Hand expression of breastmilk
My Journey Returning To Work, a mother's story
Mothers on ... breastfeeding & work

Books
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding LLLI. London: Pinter & Martin, 2010.
Exclusively Pumping Breastmilk Stephanie Casemore. Canada: Gray Lion Publ. 2013

LLL Articles
New Guidance For Employers on Breastfeeding Breaks in the Workplace
Supporting Women's Right To Breastfeed

You may also wish to look at the following guidance:
Maternity Action and their guidance on Breastfeeding at Work
ACAS: accommodating breastfeeding in the workplace
The Health & Safety Executive: Protecting pregnant workers and new mothers

This information is available to buy in printed form from the LLLGB Shop

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Working and Breastfeeding - La Leche League GB

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There is no need to stop breastfeeding when you return to work. Many mothers work outside the home and continue to breastfeed. LLLGB is here to help with information and support if you are going back to work.

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In 2025 the Plymouth Infant Feeding Team, with support from Plymouth City Council, created a range of videos to support with feeding your baby.

Check them out below!