Infant feeding
We support families both before (antenatally) and after (postnatally) birth with help, information and advice on feeding your baby.
We help you understand more about breastfeeding, address any concerns you may have and help you to make the right decisions. All parents have the right to make their own choices as to how they feed and care for their babies.
Find out more about the benefits of breastfeeding.
Learn more about bottle feeding and types of formula.
If you decide to bottle feed your baby, you’ll need to bring your own formula with you to hospital. You can buy starter packs available from most supermarkets and pharmacies
Complex feeding issues
We also provide specialist support with issues that may affect feeding such as:
- tongue tie and division
- antenatal hand expression
- expressing and maintaining milk supply
- breastfeeding with diabetes
- mastitis
Get help from the infant feeding team
Following support from your midwife or health visitor, they may refer you to our infant feeding clinic for complex infant feeding difficulties. You can also refer yourself.
Our specialist infant feeding clinics are for babies up to 28 days old and run on Mondays and Thursdays.
How to book an appointment
Call 07798 520830 or email bht.infantfeeding@nhs.net
We’re based at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in the Maternity department.
Infant feeding resources
Our team have chosen a series of videos and supporting information to help you further.
The resources cover topics such as the importance of relationship building with your baby, how hand expression can help with breastfeeding, and how to know if your baby’s getting enough milk.
Watch the video below about the importance of developing close and loving relationships with babies in their early days and weeks:
Watch the video below about a study into whether a baby’s gut bacteria can influence childhood health:
Watch the video below about how to hand express and when it may be useful:
Watch the video below about how to attach your baby:
Watch the video below about how to position and attach during breastfeeding:
Read our patient information leaflet about the benefits of antenatal hand expression
Read our patient information leaflet about expressing your milk
Read UNICEF’s guide to responsive feeding
How to care for your baby at night
Watch the video below about how to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS):
Association of Breastfeeding Mothers
National Breastfeeding Helpline
Breastfeeding support from NCT
La Leche League – breastfeeding support from pregnancy onwards