Our award winning infant feeding team are on hand to support you if you are having feeding issues with your baby. Some people that have had previous feeding issues can find it useful to seek reassurance with the team.
The Community and Hospital team are trained to be able to support feeding and able to support most routine feeding difficulties.
The clinic is available for when specialist support and advice is needed or feeding problems do not resolve. This includes:
- Previous feeding difficulties
- During pregnancy when feeding problems are anticipated
- When medical problems exist that may impact on feeding
- Breast reduction or extensive breast surgery
- Possible Tongue tie and division.
- Mastitis
- Feeding problems that cannot be resolved
- Weight loss/ static weight gain
- Medically indicated loan of hospital grade breast pump
Referral
Speak to your Midwife or Health Visitor if you feel that a specialist assessment or clinic appointment would be helpful.
You can be referred to the clinic by your midwife/ GP or Health visitor during pregnancy and up until around one month of age.
You can be referred to the Infant feeding team lead for the 0-19 service, if you have feeding problems after this time. Please contact Sarah Brooker on 0191 282 3419.
Once you are home, if you live outside of Newcastle infant feeding support is provided by the hospital where you live.
You can be referred to your local breastfeeding specialist service if you live outside of Newcastle. For example, if you live in the Northumbria area and have Northumbria community midwives, your postnatal care including infant feeding issues will be dealt with by the Northumbria hospitals (Cramlington or Hexham).
Ask your Community Midwife where your local specialist support is available.
Peer support is also available in each locality- ask your Community Midwife for your local information. You can contact Newcastle Peer Support 0191 272 4244.
Clinic location and days
The infant feeding team run a breastfeeding clinic Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm (not Bank Holidays), appointments can be face to face, video or by telephone. The clinic is in the Birthing Centre on Level 3 of the Leazes Wing.
We have achieved the full UNICEF Baby Friendly Accreditation. This award recognises excellent infant feeding care.
Lynne Mcdonald Infant feeding Coordinator won the prestigious RCM Partnership award in 2020 in relation to the setting up of the clinic.
Students
As a teaching hospital we will often have students from various specialities come to maternity services to gain experience. They could be:
- Midwives
- Doctors
- Paramedics
- Nurses
- Occupational therapists
The students can be at various stages of their training and may be male or female. They always appreciate your permission to watch or participate in any part of your care. This experience is vital to their training. It is your decision as to whether you will allow any student to participate or watch any or all of your care. In addition, you can also decline students altogether.
Contact
If you have any queries, please contact:
- The breastfeeding clinic on 0191 282 6833
- nuth.breastfeedingclinicmaternity@nhs.net
- Infant feeding coordinator on 0191 282 0437
