Beside You

Breastfeeding help that makes you feel supported. Welcome to Beside You. Beside You is here to support, advocate and celebrate breastfeeding throughout Medway.

Breastfeeding is great, but we recognise it is not always easy. Those who wish to breastfeed may need support, and that's why we all need to stand up and say we're Beside You. Whether you're a partner, grandparent, friend, colleague, healthcare professional or business owner, you can help support those breastfeeding in Kent and Medway. We aim to share evidenced based information, updates, local stories and more with support from our team of infant feeding specialists, peer supporters and local families. If you wish to share a story from your breastfeeding journey to support and inform others please send us a message and we will contact you. Check out our other social media:
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02/09/2025

Breastfeeding takes practice. It can take time to work out which positions feel best for you and your baby.

You can breastfeed your baby in various positions, so it's good to try different ones to see how they work for you.

⭐️ Cradle hold
This is probably the most popular breastfeeding position. It's good to make sure you are comfortable in this position

⭐️ Cross-cradle hold
The cross cradle hold can be useful in the first few days as it can give you more control in guiding your baby to the breast

⭐ Rugby hold
The rugby hold, where you hold your baby on your side, facing you. This position can help take the pressure off a c-section scar, it's also good for women with bigger breasts, or when feeding twins

⭐️ Laid-back position
Laid-back breastfeeding is when you lie back in a comfortable semi-reclined position on a comfy sofa or bed. If you have had a caesarean section (c-section), your baby can lie across you and away from your incision

⭐ Koala
This is a helpful position if your baby has reflux. It’s also good for feeding older babies who want to face you. For younger babies, make sure they are fully supported in this position

⭐️ Side-lying
This is a good position if you've had a caesarean or difficult delivery, or if you're breastfeeding in the middle of the night. Visit The Lullaby Trust website to read more about safe sleep and breastfeeding 👉 https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/

⭐️ Twins
The cradle hold can also be applied to tandem feeding twins. You may need an extra pair of hands to help you to position your babies.

For further information and a video on breastfeeding positions, visit https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life/baby/feeding-your-baby/breastfeeding/how-to-breastfeed/breastfeeding-positions/

01/09/2025

There is lots of support on offer to help you breastfeed your baby.

Watch the video to find out all about how we can support you to feed your baby.

Thanks to the lovely Jen and Michelle for being part of our video. They both volunteer to provide breastfeeding support for you, so you can feed your baby for as long as you want to 💜

Learn more about booking a Hello Baby session here 👉 https://bit.ly/46tEMjM

Medway Community Healthcare

31/08/2025

Having a baby means coping with a lack of sleep 😴

It's absolutely normal for babies to wake at the night for at least the first year. Little ones need to feed little and often, and quite often they wake lots during the night.

For some parents, this frequent waking at night can be a real challenge.

So please be kind, you never know how many times they were up during the night 💜

29/08/2025

Hands up, who woke up like this today? ✋😂

Image credit: The Breastmilk Queen - Amy McGlade

28/08/2025

What support is available through Beside You this September? 💜🤱

✨ Beside You social drop-ins ✨

📆 Every other Wednesday
⌚️ 9.30am to 11am
📍 Jaspers Community Cafe, Rochester and Elm Court Garden Centre, Gillingham (NEW VENUE)

Please see dates in the poster.

*These drop-ins run in partnership with Medway Maternity and Medway Community Healthcare.

🤰 Hello Baby
These are free 1-hour antenatal information sessions you can attend to find out all about feeding your little one when they arrive.

🤱 Peer support sessions
Face-to-face sessions for support with breastfeeding once your baby is here.

Hello Baby and Peer Support sessions run on:
🟣 Mondays in Strood and Hoo
🟣 Thursdays at Deanwood in Rainham
🟣 Fridays at Delce in Rochester
🟣 Every first Friday in Lordswood.

Times and days may vary. To book either a Hello Baby or Peer Support session please email medch.mbn@nhs.net or phone/text 07791 043190.

27/08/2025

✨ It's Black Breastfeeding Week ✨

This week is about celebration, visibility, and support for black mothers and families with their breastfeeding journeys.

Every story matters, and every shared experience helps break stigma, build community and inspire others 💪🏿🤎

To all the incredible black mums raising and feeding their babies, we see you and we celebrate you 💜

Share your story with us in the comments or tag us in a post. Your story could be what another mama needs to hear right now.

26/08/2025

Our newly refreshed website covers everything from pregnancy and birth, right through to breastfeeding support and more.

Beside You offers even more comprehensive guidance thanks to Medway Maternity and Medway Community Healthcare.

Our updated website now includes:
🤰🏾 clear antenatal guidance for expectant families in Medway
😴 new ‘Looking after you’ section covering nutrition, safe sleep, relationships and perinatal mental health
👪 dedicated support section for dads and partners
🤱even more breastfeeding information, plus an updated interactive map of local support
📖 stories from local families and links to services and breastfeeding-friendly venues.

Visit our website and discover more 👉 https://bit.ly/3tw2HRc

25/08/2025

✨ Your breastfeeding stories ✨

"This is my fourth breastfeeding journey.

Each journey came with it’s own obstacles; from reflux to high levels of jaundice, and most recently a tongue-tie.

Breastfeeding is a lovely and natural thing to do, which it is, but it can also be the toughest as well." 🤱

We love receiving and sharing your breastfeeding journeys. Thank you Gemma for being part of our photoshoot last year and for sharing your journey with us 💜

Read Gemma's full story over on our website 👉 https://bit.ly/48tin6z

Let's support, champion and empower one another 💫

Send us a DM to share your breastfeeding journey too!

24/08/2025

Volunteers needed!

Have you breastfed for over 6 months?

Could you offer time to support other mums in Medway to breastfeed?

Breastfeeding rates across Medway are lower than the national average. Help us to empower other women to breastfeed their babies ✨

Come and join our team of friendly peer supporters! 💜

Peer support training is facilitated by Medway Community Healthcare and NCT

If you'd like to find out more about how you can help, email medch.mbn@nhs.net or call 07791 043190.

22/08/2025

Parents of girls, does this ring true for you?

Address

Chatham
ME44TR

Website

https://besideyoumedway.co.uk/

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