Postnatal Information- Dudley Infant Feeding Team by

Responding to your baby's needs...

katypenn — 2022-01-04 16:12:35 UTC

Responding to babies’ needs for comfort and food is hugely beneficial for brain development and makes for more confident toddlers. Parents should be supported in breastfeeding responsively and keeping their babies close to help them become happy, healthy and secure children and adults.

Relationship Building...

katypenn — 2022-01-04 16:14:58 UTC

This video looks at both the theory and practice of relationship building and responsive breastfeeding, supporting families to get their relationship with their baby off to the best start.

The myth of a good baby...

katypenn — 2022-01-04 16:16:58 UTC

A good baby is a perception held by our society that babies should act in a certain way. Some baby care books take advantage of this by suggesting parents should encourage babies to be in a strict routine for their feeding and sleep.

This animation by Dr Amy Brown encourages new parents to put the books down and instead be more responsive to their baby's needs.

Building a Happy Baby...

katypenn — 2022-01-04 16:19:12 UTC

Keep your baby close to you so that you start to recognise the signals they make to tell you they are hungry or want a cuddle. Responding to these signals will make your baby feel safe. Cuddling your baby next to your skin allows them to smell you and hear your heartbeat, which will comfort and calm them. This will also help you to feel calm and relaxed and will help with breastfeeding.

Caring for your baby at night...

katypenn — 2022-01-04 16:22:02 UTC

Caring For Your Baby at Night covers a range of topics, including getting some rest, night feeding, safe sleeping environments and helping baby to settle. It is endorsed by the Lullaby Trust, the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), the Institute of Health Visiting (iHV) and the Community Practitioners and Health Visitors Association (CPHVA).

Lullaby Trust, Safer Sleep Advice

katypenn — 2022-01-04 16:28:16 UTC

The Lullaby Trust safer sleep advice gives simple steps for how you can sleep your baby to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) which is commonly known as cot death. It can give you the peace of mind to enjoy this special time.

Our advice is based on strong scientific evidence and should be followed for all sleep periods, not just at night.

The safest place for your baby...

katypenn — 2022-01-04 16:51:06 UTC

Babies should be sleep in a clear sleep space, which is easy to create in a cot or Moses basket. We know however that some families make the informed choice to bed share, and so recommend making your bed a safer place for baby whether you doze off accidentally, or choose to bed share. Lullaby Trust's advice on co-sleeping with your baby will tell you how.

Guide to bottle feeding...

katypenn — 2022-01-05 12:10:11 UTC

If you have made an informed choice to give your baby bottles it is important to learn how to do this in a safe and responsive way. Please speak to your midwife for further support. The key things you need to know are:
-Which formula milk to use: It is recommended that you use stage 1 infant formula until your baby is 1 year old.
-How to sterilise and make up bottles safely.
-How to give the bottle feeds in a safe, responsive and paced way.

Responsive Bottle Feeding

katypenn — 2022-01-05 12:12:29 UTC

This leaflet gives further information about how to pace your bottle feeds and which formula to choose.

First Steps Nutrition

katypenn — 2022-01-05 12:18:40 UTC

First Steps Nutrition Trust's website is a fantastic source of reliable, un-biased and evidence based information about infant formula.

Off to the best start...

katypenn — 2022-01-05 12:26:15 UTC

Skin to skin...

katypenn — 2022-01-05 12:28:51 UTC

Skin to skin has lots of benefits for baby and can be done by both parents. Take a look at this great video from Unicef Baby Friendly Team.

Positioning and Attachment

katypenn — 2022-01-05 12:43:18 UTC

Helping your baby to achieve an effective attachment to the breast should help make sure your breasts are comfortable and that your baby gets enough milk. Please ask for help from your midwife or the Infant Feeding Team if you need it. Take a look at this video...

How to recognise that your baby is getting enough milk...

katypenn — 2022-01-05 13:32:16 UTC

It is important to know the signs to look for to know that your baby is getting enough milk, this checklist will help to guide you. If you are concerned that your baby is not getting enough milk please speak to a midwife as soon as possible (Hospital switch board 01384 456111).
The Infant Feeding Team will help support you if you have any concerns.

Responsive Feeding: Supporting Close and Loving Relationships

katypenn — 2022-01-05 13:34:44 UTC

UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative: Foreign Language Resources

katypenn — 2022-01-05 13:36:21 UTC

Dudley Infant Feeding Team...

katypenn — 2022-01-05 13:36:51 UTC

Dudley Infant Feeding Team are available to support you throughout your pregnancy, right through until your baby is 6 weeks old:

- Lisa and Julia: Specialist Midwives Infant Feeding- lactation consultant and tongue-tie practitioner

- Lyndsay, Annmarie and Liz: Community Breastfeeding Support Workers- trained in breastfeeding peer support

The team are available for telephone support and home visits in the Dudley Borough.

Flo text messaging service...

katypenn — 2022-01-05 13:37:36 UTC

Have you been signed up to Flo yet?

Flo, is a free text information service- you will receive information throughout pregnancy and until your baby is 6 weeks old, about things like skin- to-skin and what to expect in those early days and weeks with your new born baby.

If you would like to sign up to Flo or more information please email dgft.cbsw@nhs.net or ask your midwife.

Breastfeeding and Relationships in the Early Days

katypenn — 2022-01-05 13:40:20 UTC

Hand Expression

katypenn — 2022-01-05 13:42:17 UTC

This video guides mothers on how to hand express breast milk and talks about the times when hand expression might be useful.

Expressing and Storing Breastmilk

katypenn — 2022-01-05 13:43:25 UTC

Before giving your baby breastmilk from a syringe always remove the bung.

Expressing for a baby on the neonatal unit...

katypenn — 2022-01-05 13:47:40 UTC

For sick and preterm babies the importance of breastmilk cannot be overestimated. Breastmilk supports growth and provides protection from infection, with evidence suggesting that its use decreases the incidence and severity of the life-threatening disease necrotising entercolitis.

By providing breastmilk, a mother can be assured that she is uniquely contributing to the wellbeing and development of her baby. However, expressing breastmilk over a long period of time is extremely demanding and if a mother is to succeed she needs the support from those involved with caring for her and her baby.

Please speak to your midwife as soon as possible after birth for support to express milk for your baby. This checklist may be helpful if you are exclusively expressing your milk for your baby.

Expressing breastmilk...

katypenn — 2022-01-05 13:54:15 UTC

If your breastfeeding is going well you may wish to wait a few weeks until your breastfeeding is established before you start expressing, if you want to express. However, some of the information below may be useful if you do find yourself needing to express. Please don't hesitate to contact the Infant Feeding Team if you need more support.

Dudley Infant Feeding Team...

katypenn — 2022-01-05 13:55:37 UTC

Dudley Infant Feeding Team are available to support you throughout your pregnancy, right through until your baby is 6 weeks old:

- Lisa and Julia: Specialist Midwives Infant Feeding- are both IBCLCs (International Board Certified Lactation Consultants) and have specialist infant feeding and tongue tie knowledge.

-Lyndsay, Liz and Annmarie: Community Breastfeeding Support Workers- trained in breastfeeding peer support.

Hope : Flo Text Message Co-Ordinator - will ensure you receive the Flo text messages.

The team are available for telephone support and home visits in the Dudley Borough. We also offer a feeding clinic on Mondays at Stourbridge Hub. To make an appointment please call 01384 456111 ext 3887, Monday-Friday 09.00am-12.00pm.

Is bottle feeding going well?

katypenn — 2022-01-05 15:37:45 UTC

This checklist may help you and your midwife assess that bottle feeding is going well.

Babies Cry...

katypenn — 2022-03-04 17:11:39 UTC

BABIES CRY! Infant crying is normal and it will stop A baby’s cry can be upsetting and frustrating. It is designed to get your attention and you may be worried that something is wrong with your baby.
What can you do to help your baby? Comfort methods can sometimes soothe the baby and the crying will stop. Babies can cry for reasons such as if they are hungry, tired, wet/dirty or if they are unwell. Check these basic needs and try some simple calming techniques: • Talk calmly, hum or sing to your baby • Let them hear a repeating or soothing sound • Hold them close – skin to skin • Go for a walk outside with your baby • Give them a warm bath These techniques may not always work. It may take a combination or more than one attempt to soothe your baby. If you think there is something wrong with your baby or the crying won’t stop speak to your GP, Midwife or Health Visitor. If you are worried that your baby is unwell call NHS 111.
Not every baby is easy to calm but that doesn’t mean you are doing anything wrong. Don’t get angry with your baby or yourself. Instead, put your baby in a safe place and walk away so that you can calm yourself down by doing something that takes your mind off the crying. For more information please visit: ICON - Babies cry you can cope - Advice and Support | ICON (iconcope.org)

katypenn — 2022-12-06 11:49:04 UTC

katypenn — 2022-12-06 11:55:33 UTC

katypenn — 2022-12-06 13:00:00 UTC

Research on skin to skin has shown that it can have a positive effect on the mother- baby relationship. Below is lots of information on skin to skin.

7 days a week support is available...

katypenn — 2023-03-29 13:08:40 UTC

For breastfeeding support weekdays 09:00 - 17:00 contact the Dudley Infant Feeding Team on:

01384 456111, ext 3887
Julia- 07920246433

Lisa- 07929735941
dgft.spmwif@nhs.net

It is best to call between 09.00am-12.00pm if you can.

For breastfeeding support weekdays out of hours (5.00pm-09.00am) weekends and bank holidays contact maternity triage on 01384 456111 ext 3053.

National Breastfeeding helpline

24 hours a day, 365 days a year

0300 100 0212

nationalbreastfeedinghelpline.org.uk

Support Groups in the Community

lisawilliams20_ — 2023-10-26 06:13:45 UTC

Local peer support groups. For more information and to book. New Baby Network is commissioned by Dudley Public Health to provide peer support groups in the Dudley Borough.

lisawilliams20_ — 2024-02-12 16:21:41 UTC

Have you been signed up for Flo yet? Flo is our tailor-made text messaging service. Especially built to support parents in Dudley. When you sign up for our text messages you get evidence based information direct to your phone, in real time. As we use your due date to allocate your package you will get reminders right when you need them. The best bit is it's 🌟FREE🌟 if you are in Dudley. Flo can support you from your baby's birth until your baby is 6 weeks old. You'll get information on...

💙Building Babies Brain

💙Pregnancy Milestones

💙Breastfeeding Facts

💙How to breastfeed

💙Resources in other languages

💙Skin to skin

💙Safer sleep

💙Links to further information on infant feeding

💙DadPad

💙Social media links

💙Mental health support

💙What to expect

💙How to know your baby is feeding well

💙Links to other services eg. HPSS, Health Visiting etc.

💙Things to avoid

💙ICON – You can cope.

Ask your midwife to refer you to be signed up or you can email us to sign you up dgft.cbsw@nhs.net. Our Florence text messaging service will always be FREE, even if you get a notification on your phone saying you will be charged, this is an automated message & you will not get any charges. The service is regulated by the PSA Authority http://psauthority.org.uk

Parenting and Infant Feeding Support in Dudley

katypenn — 2024-04-17 13:54:27 UTC

To book a session and to see the groups available each week visit https://newbabynetwork.co.uk/

lisawilliams20_ — 2025-07-12 14:55:55 UTC

The support of your partner, family and friends can really have a positive impact on your feeding journey.

Partners can also have lots of cuddles. Here's a practical guide so they can feel prepared bit.ly/bftogether & local videos bit.ly/ohbabybc

Search DadPad today on your App Store or Google Play. It is free in Dudley provides Dad with practical information on parenting a newborn baby bit.ly/DadPadDud

lisawilliams20_ — 2025-07-12 15:07:01 UTC

If you live in Sandwell you can access feeding support in the community from Breastfeeding network- https://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/project/sandwell/