Breastfeeding Network Portsmouth

Breastfeeding Network Portsmouth Breastfeeding Support Services Across Portsmouth delivered by The Breastfeeding Network

19/12/2025

❤️ Advent Day 19 🎁

Today we're doing a shout-out to our The Breastfeeding Network Drugs in Breastmilk Service 💜

Our unique Drugs in Breastmilk service provides information to mothers, parents, families and healthcare professionals on taking medication whilst breastfeeding – 365 days a year. It's run by registered pharmacists who are all trained to give breastfeeding support.

So, if you're feeling under the weather over Christmas and aren't sure what you can take while breastfeeding, or have a question that our factsheets don't cover, please contact our volunteer pharmacist helpers via email or Facebook message - enquiries are usually answered within 24 hours.

Find out more here: www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/drugs-in-breastmilk/ 💜

✨Wishing you all a restful and peaceful Christmas and New Year ✨ If you or anyone you know needs breastfeeding informati...
18/12/2025

✨Wishing you all a restful and peaceful Christmas and New Year ✨

If you or anyone you know needs breastfeeding information or support over the festive season, then please call the National Breastfeeding Helpline UK on 0300 100 0212. It is free to call and available 24/7 - even on Christmas Day! 🎄

To sign your venue up to the Welcome Scheme, please email
Portsmouthwelcomes@breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk

More information can be found here https://solent-family-assist.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/386/~/portsmouth-welcomes-breastfeeding





✨Advent Day 18✨Behind today’s door, we have a new blog post: Breastfeeding under a Christmas Tree🎄Alex Davies, from our ...
18/12/2025

✨Advent Day 18✨
Behind today’s door, we have a new blog post: Breastfeeding under a Christmas Tree🎄

Alex Davies, from our NBH@Night team, shares a personal memory of supporting a mum at Christmas — a reminder that even during the festive season, families need care and support.

This Christmas, our National Breastfeeding Helpline UK will be available all day and night, throughout the holidays💜

Read Breastfeeding under a Christmas Tree, here:
www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/breastfeeding-under-a-christmas-tree/

[ID: Breastfeeding under a Christmas tree... by Alex Davies, NBH@Night Team. Image of a woman's legs in Christmas leggings near a Christmas tree. I saw a confident, powerful young woman sit in the glow of her twinkling Christmas Tree nursing her baby at the breast like a pro... It is one of the most magical things I have seen... Candy cane 18.]

17/12/2025

For those impacted by domestic abuse, the holiday season can be a time of increased risk.

If you, or someone you know needs help, charities such as Refuge and Women's Aid are here for you 🩷

National Domestic Abuse Helpline UK is free and 24-hour.
📞0808 200 247

Visit nhs.uk for more information on getting help:
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/getting-help-for-domestic-violence/

✨Please share - you may know someone who needs it✨

[ID: Call our Freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline. 0808 2000 247. www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk. We will listen. We will believe you. . Refuge. For women and children. Against domestic violence.]

17/12/2025

🍸🎅 Advent Day 17 🍸🎅

Alcohol and Breastfeeding🥂

For those of you who would like to know how to breastfeed safely if you want a drink over the festive period, one of our volunteers on the National Breastfeeding Helpline UK is here to ease your worries.

You can have occasional, small amounts of alcohol, but should not drink regularly or heavily (e.g. binge drinking) without considering how to limit your baby’s exposure.

If you would like support planning your festivities around breastfeeding, talk to one of our peer supporters on the National Breastfeeding Helpline UK - 0300 100 0212, or drop them a message, anytime.

Find out more about alcohol and breastfeeding in our The Breastfeeding Network Drugs in Breastmilk Service factsheet:
www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/factsheet/alcohol/

✨Plan ahead to keep your festivities safe and fun!

16/12/2025

This week, we’re opening up gentle conversations about winter and perinatal mental health. As the days continue to get shorter and the light slips away a little earlier, winter can bring a mix of emotions for parents and carers.

For some, it’s a season of cosy moments, twinkling lights and time spent cocooned with loved ones. For others, it can feel overwhelming - darker evenings, cold weather, more time indoors, and a sense of isolation that can settle in quietly.

And layered on top of all this is the pressure of the festive season — the expectations to feel joyful, to “make memories,” to do more, give more, be more. Followed by New Year, which is often loaded with comparisons, resolutions, and the sense that you should be starting fresh, even if you’re already running on empty.

We’ll explore the emotional highs and lows this season can bring, share supportive reflections, and remind parents and carers that every experience is valid.

Because at PANDAS, we know that mental health doesn’t follow a season. You deserve support, understanding and compassion .

If winter, feels heavy, lonely or simply harder than you expected, please know you don’t have to face it alone.

[ID - Text reads: The weight of Winter]

16/12/2025

🩶 A Lovely You Said, We Did Update! 🩶

We’re so pleased to share that, with generous support and enthusiasm from our service user representatives, Breastfeeding Network Portsmouth , and - most importantly- Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust for making the vision a reality, the breastfeeding room at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth has had a beautiful makeover! 🤍

You’ll find it just tucked around the corner at the main entrance, behind the lifts, opposite Costa (Lift Area 2) - a calm, welcoming space for feeding, resting, and taking a moment. 🤱☕

Huge thanks to everyone involved in making this happen. We hope it helps families feel more comfortable, supported, and cared for when they visit ✨

You are protected by the Equality Act 2010 to breastfeed anywhere you are legally allowed to be - but we know sometimes it’s nice to have your own little space should you want it 💜

Your voice matters 🗣️

✨Advent Day 16✨Behind today's door we have DSUK DSUK - Positive About Down Syndrome 🧡💜Here at DSUK we know that breastf...
16/12/2025

✨Advent Day 16✨
Behind today's door we have DSUK DSUK - Positive About Down Syndrome 🧡💜

Here at DSUK we know that breastfeeding can be difficult, especially when there are other health factors involved. That’s why we think it’s important to share lived experiences from people who have been in a similar position, in order to offer advice and hope. Clo shared her breastfeeding story with us, including the additional challenges she faced following her daughter’s surgery 🧡

"Polly latched and fed as soon as she was born and made breastfeeding extremely easy, especially as we were surrounded by friends and family with babies who weren’t able to do it despite trying so hard. Unfortunately Polly had surgery on day three of her life and had to be tube fed - thankfully using my expressed milk.

Our problem came post surgery, as she was being tube fed ever 2/3 hours for at least a week as she was never hungry enough to latch and feed from me. I tried relentlessly for days and if it hadn’t been for the NICU nurse in The Royal Hospital for Children Glasgow, very much breaking the rules (after me begging) and allowing Polly to go 4 hours without a feed, she was finally hungry enough to feed from me and from that moment on she has been exclusively breastfed since.

Polly is so healthy, hardly ever ill and thriving. It definitely benefited us both, after having felt so disconnected from her while we slept apart in NICU. EBF is extremely hard on the mum but without a doubt the best achievement - other than creating her of course."

At DSUK we are always here to support your breastfeeding journey; we have a wealth of resources to support breastfeeding including:

💛Our published book: Breastfeeding a baby with Down syndrome.
🧡Our breastfeeding peer supporter Sarah Ojar (BfN trained)
💚Lived experiences breastfeeding / NG tube feeding
💛A breastfeeding Facebook support group.
🧡A group for maternity professionals.
💚Breastfeeding research documents - the most recent from this year.

Plus a whole lot more that you can find here:
https://downsyndromeuk.co.uk/health/feeding/

[ID: Image of a mum smiling, holding her child. Candy cane 16.]

We can't wait to see you guys tomorrow morning at Northern Parade Family Hub, our last group there until the New Year 💜J...
15/12/2025

We can't wait to see you guys tomorrow morning at Northern Parade Family Hub, our last group there until the New Year 💜

Join us for all things breastfeeding, a cuppa and brilliant company, all with a sprinkle of festive cheer 🎄

✨ Advent Day 15 ✨Monday Mood: Uplifted 💜Behind door number 15 is a photo from our Midlothian Breastfeeding Support servi...
15/12/2025

✨ Advent Day 15 ✨
Monday Mood: Uplifted 💜

Behind door number 15 is a photo from our Midlothian Breastfeeding Support service at the Breastfeeding Café in Auchendinny, which they’ve been involved with since 2019.

Our peer supporters work hard to provide a welcoming space for mums and families to get information and feel listened to and supported.

But it’s also the support of fellow mums and parents that makes these groups so special. The early days with a baby can feel overwhelming and isolating at times.

Having somewhere to go where you can feed your baby, ask questions, and meet others on a similar journey can make such a difference ☕

Whether it’s practical support, reassurance, or simply chatting with someone who understands — these moments of connection really matter.

If you know a new parent, someone who’s expecting, or someone who might be hesitant to come along, please share our groups with them and let them know they’re very welcome 💜

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/drop-in-centres-map/

If you’re worried about missing your local group over the holidays, our National Breastfeeding Helpline UK is here for you — 24/7.
Call or message any time, day or night, all through the holidays 📞💌

[ID: Candy Cane 15. Image of three mums and their babies sitting around a table chatting and drinking coffee. Christmas tree in the background. Festive background.]

Today we are at Milton Park Family Hub & Portsmouth Maternity Centre, our last groups on a Monday until the New Year 🎄Co...
15/12/2025

Today we are at Milton Park Family Hub & Portsmouth Maternity Centre, our last groups on a Monday until the New Year 🎄

Come and see us, if you're having issues with breastfeeding or if you're not, we would love to see you 💜

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and we are here for it and YOU! ⭐️

NO BOOKING REQUIRED, ALL OUR GROUPS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO EVERYONE 🎅

14/12/2025

Happy Channukah to those celebrating 💜

[ID: Happy Channukah. Menorah in background. Flowers, stars and Star of David patterns in border.]

Address

Portsmouth

Website

https://linktr.ee/pompeybreastfeedingnetwork

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Breastfeeding Network Portsmouth posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram