Goodwin Doulas and Breastfeeding Peer Support

23/09/2025

💊PARACETAMOL USE IN PREGNANCY💊

With the recent headlines we thought it was important to share the current guidance regarding the use of paracetamol in pregnancy.🤰

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulation Agency (MHRA) states:

"Patient safety is our top priority. There is no evidence that taking paracetamol during pregnancy causes autism in children."

"Paracetamol remains the recommended pain relief option for pregnant women when used as directed. Pregnant women should continue to follow existing NHS guidance and speak to their healthcare professional if they have questions about any medication during pregnancy. Untreated pain and fever can pose risks to the unborn baby, so it is important to manage these symptoms with the recommended treatment."

"Our advice on medicines in pregnancy is based on rigorous assessment of the best available scientific evidence. Any new evidence that could affect our recommendations would be carefully evaluated by our independent scientific experts."

"We continuously monitor the safety of all medicines, including those used during pregnancy, through robust monitoring and surveillance. We encourage anyone to report any suspected side effects to us via the Yellow Card scheme."

More information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mhra-confirms-taking-paracetamol-during-pregnancy-remains-safe-and-there-is-no-evidence-it-causes-autism-in-children and https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/paracetamol-for-adults/pregnancy-breastfeeding-and-fertility-while-taking-paracetamol-for-adults/

03/09/2025

01/09/2025

Slightly late, but our final story to share for Beverly has kindly written her journey and allowed us to share it with you along with her beautiful photo.
I have always seen breastfeeding as a privilege, and it mostly came naturally to me with my older boys. I breastfed my 4-year-old for 2 years and my 21-month-old for 16 months. So, when I had my 3rd boy just over a month ago, I never imagined that we would struggle but we did.
From the first time he latched on I felt that something was wrong. It was painful and didn’t subside as he continued feeding. I soldiered through feeding him anyway and eventually had serious bruising which required a break from breastfeeding. He had also lost more of his birth weight than we were comfortable with, so I fed him expressed milk when I could and topped up with formula. Thankfully this was successful, and he regained the weight.
I initially suspected he had a tongue tie but dismissed it when it wasn’t spotted at his general checks. For a while, I questioned my abilities and everything I thought I knew about breastfeeding. Eventually I requested a formal assessment which revealed a posterior tongue tie and a high palette. It was validating to know that all this time we were both doing all that we could. After having the tongue tie snipped, we tried to reinitiate breastfeeding which was a slow process as he got used to the bottle and seemed disinterested in the breast. With support from Infant Feeding and Breastfeeding peer support and some growth of his tiny mouth we are back to successfully breastfeeding again. I’m so happy that he can enjoy being breastfed again and we can enjoy the special bond and even the convenience that comes with this.
I found the entire experience to be a humbling one, it has extended my knowledge and my appreciation of breastfeeding. As a peer supporter myself, I feel better equipped to serve other mums on their breastfeeding journey.

31/08/2025

Another wonderful reflection on breastfeeding by a local black breastfeeding mother -beautiful words shared from Oluebube:

"As I look back on my journey to motherhood, I am reminded of the excitement and anticipation that filled my heart after my wedding. I had envisioned a seamless transition into parenthood, cherishing every moment of pregnancy and parenthood. However, the reality of breastfeeding proved to be more complex than I had anticipated.

During my first pregnancy, my body prepared for lactation, but the initial breastfeeding experience was challenging due to a delayed start after birth. Despite ni**le pain and engorgement, the support of my birth partner and midwives encouraged me to persevere. At home, positioning difficulties led to concerns about milk supply, and a pediatrician suggested supplementing with formula. With persistence and guidance, I continued breastfeeding my daughter until she was over a year old.

My second pregnancy brought mixed emotions, but I was determined to breastfeed again. However, initial lactation challenges and concerns about my baby's size led to formula supplementation. The support of midwives, breastfeeding counselors, and friends made a significant difference in my experience. Notably, the Doula Breastfeeding Peer Support group provided invaluable guidance and reassurance, helping me navigate the complexities of breastfeeding.

This experience inspired me to pay it forward, and I am grateful for the opportunity to support other mothers. As we celebrate Black Breastfeeding Week, I want to acknowledge the strength and resilience of Black mothers. To all the Black mothers out there, know that you are seen, heard, and appreciated. Your journey is valid, and your efforts are worthy of recognition."

30/08/2025

During Black Breastfeeding Week we like to share stories of some of our wonderful Hull women such as Gloria.

"My breastfeeding journey was initially an incredibly difficult one. For something so natural, it felt very burdensome in parts and lonely. From round the clock expressing, to frequent bouts of mastitis and then dealing with the introduction of teeth when feeding from the source amongst other challenging feats, I never felt so tested in my life. Joining the Goodwin Breastfeeding Peer Support and Doula service as a volunteer helped me greatly as my feelings of isolation subsided and I no longer felt misunderstood. I was finally around people with lived experience and individuals who completely understood what I was going through. The advice and support from Goodwin and my fellow peers was phenomenal and helped me continue feeding my child up until he was nearly 5. It’s now a pleasure helping others on their breastfeeding journey when I can and my experience as well as the advice I have taken on board over the years has given me the confidence I need when supporting parents/caregivers on their breastfeeding journey." Thank you Gloria for all you have given us and what you continue to give.

30/08/2025

Why have a black breastfeeding week?
Statistically, black parents are less likely to breastfeed their babies for extended periods which can lead to health inequalities for black parents and their babies. This is not ok but why do black families choose not to breastfeed?
There are many reasons for this and too many to list in a Facebook post but many women of colour feel they are not represented in the breastfeeding world due to a national lack of diversity in breastfeeding leadership and promotional material, cultural and language barriers to accessing support and negative cultural associations with black women being enslaved to wet-nurse white women's babies.
We support and recognise Black Breastfeeding Week to help raise awareness of these issues and want to welcome and encourage all black nursing parents to use our services. This year's theme is Boots on The Ground: Rooted in Breastfeeding Success, Grounded in Community Support

26/08/2025

Please vote for the person who made a positive difference to you in your pregnancy, birth, postnatal or breastfeeding journey. We will be presenting this award at our conference on 3rd October

Please make your nomination here for the Naomi Bellis Award 2025. This is for an individual in Hull who you feel has made a positive difference in someone's pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding experience. This award will be presented on Friday 3rd October 2025, so nominations will close 3rd September....

12/08/2025

Interested in Training with us?

We now have start dates for our next round of Doula & BFPS Training.

Please scan our QR code to register your interest