This week we’re proud to support World Breastfeeding Week! For this year’s campaign, we are aiming to make a difference to parents, highlighting the importance of creating supportive environments where all families can feel confident and informed in their feeding choices.
Why Breastfeeding Matters
Breastfeeding can offer many benefits for both mother and baby, including:
- strengthening the immune system
- reducing the risk of infections and illness
- supporting with bonding and emotional wellbeing
- lowering the risk of certain long-term health conditions
Breastfeeding is a skill that takes time and practice. It’s completely normal to have questions, especially about whether your baby is feeding well or getting enough milk.
With the right support, many parents find that breastfeeding becomes a natural and rewarding part of their routine.
Your midwife or health visitor can offer guidance, information, and encouragement throughout your breastfeeding journey.
If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to speak to your midwife or health visitor, or connect with a local breastfeeding support group—you’re not alone.
Resources
Your Local Health Visiting Team
Devon Health Visiting service offers support for parents who are breastfeeding, formula feeding or partial breast feeding. Mothers can access this support once your baby is ten days or older by contacting your local Health Visitor Hub. Please talk to your midwife if your baby is still within their care. Contact details for your Health Visitor Hub can be found in your baby’s personal health record (red book). Appointments are available every week and can be booked by contacting Exeter public health nursing hub on 0333 234 1902.
Latch & Attach Appointments
If you are struggling with getting your baby to attach to your breast for feeding or you are experiencing pain in your breast or nipples whilst breastfeeding, then please contact your local Health Visitor Hub where a health visitor or public health Nurse will be able to provide you with first line advice or they can refer you to the Infant Feeding Team Latch & Attach service. You can book face-to-face or teleconference (video) call appointments every week by contacting Exeter public health nursing hub on 0333 234 1902
Feeding Helplines and Digital Advice Tools
If you or someone you know is struggling with feeding a baby, please read through the resources below to see what help is available across Devon and how you can get in contact with them.
- The Breastfeeding Network – Peer support and information for women who are breastfeeding, parents and families. Their helpline is open daily from 9.30am – 9.30pm: 0300 100 0210 or 0300 100 0212. Bengali/Sylheti Supporter line: 0300 456 2421
- La Lech League – Friendly breastfeeding support from pregnancy onwards; for all families at every stage of their breastfeeding relationship and in ways that work best for them. This helpline is open 24-hours every day: 0845 120 2918.
- Association of Breastfeeding Mothers (ABM) – Counselling with a highly trained volunteer who can provide up-to-date, accurate and evidence-based information to mums, partners, families – anyone who has a question or concern about breastfeeding. This helpline is open every day from 9.30am – 10.30pm daily: 0300 330 5453.
- Breast Feeding Friend – A digital tool from Start for Life that has lots of useful information and expert advise to share with you. It is available on Amazon Alexa, Google Home and Facebook Messenger.
- DadPad – A guide developed with the NHS has lots of useful feeding information on it specifically for Dads and partners.
Peer Support Groups
Peer support is recognised as a valued part of breastfeeding. Group support allows mums to come together within their community to support normal breastfeeding and when breastfeeding can feel a little challenging. Breastfeeding peer support can be found here. At these free to attend groups, a trained breastfeeding practitioner or peer supporter will be present.
Downloadable Resources
- A guide to help you start breastfeeding
- A guide to bottle feeding
- A guide to help you start breastfeeding (easy read)
Page created: 1st August 2025
Page updated: 1st August 2025