Chelwest Infant Feeding

13/03/2026

Safe sleep week is coming to a close soon, and we’ve had lots of helpful posts come from with simple and clear guidance for how to keep our babies safe while they sleep.

Because you can’t talk about infant feeding without talking about sleep, we’re also posting these simple reminders:

✔️ Place baby on their back to sleep
✔️ Use a firm, flat mattress
✔️ Keep the cot clear of pillows, toys & loose blankets
✔️ Keep your baby smoke free
✔️ Avoid your baby getting too hot
✔️ keep baby in your room with you for up to at least 6 months of age

Small steps can make a big difference in keeping babies safe while they sleep. Let’s spread awareness and support families in creating safer sleep spaces.

07/03/2026

Introducing another one of our Community Infant Feeding supporters!

Hi, I’m Rita!

I provide support to families within their home environment in order to help them achieve their feeding goals, in conjunction with the community midwives.

I have been involved in providing infant feeding support since 2008 in a variety of settings including hospital wards, antenatal workshops, tongue-tie clinics and community drop-in groups.
I particularly enjoy helping mothers and families feel more confident about their abilities to feed and nurture their babies. Having a newborn can be an intense and overwhelming experience as well as a joy!

I strive to offer support in a sensitive, non-judgemental and individualistic way.

04/03/2026

Happy IBCLC Day!

Today we celebrate the incredible work of International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs), skilled professionals who support, educate, and empower families through every step of their infant feeding journeys.

Led by the global community of International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners, IBCLCs provide evidence-based care, compassion, and advocacy for breastfeeding families worldwide.

✨ Supporting parents
✨ Protecting infant health
✨ Promoting informed choices
✨ Making a lasting impact on generations

To every IBCLC: thank you for your dedication, your knowledge, and your heart. Your work truly saves lives by improving long-term health outcomes for both children and mothers. (https://www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly/about/benefits-of-breastfeeding/

and

https://www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly/news-and-research/baby-friendly-research/)

Not everyone on the Infant Feeding team (pictured here) has the IBCLC qualification; many of us are, and many of us will be, however all of us on the team are dedicated to supporting families, offering skilled and thorough support. We thank ALL of you for the work you do!

02/03/2026

Chelsea Westminster site
Workshops Book here:

htts://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/chelsea-and-westminster-face-to-face-antenatal-breastfeeding-workshops-tickets-542850469367

The workshops are run by one of the members of our Infant Feeding Team.

We will talk through the benefits of breastfeeding for both you and your baby, and the practicalities of breastfeeding your new little one. The aim of this workshop is to help you feel more confident about breastfeeding and understand how to prevent and solve common breastfeeding difficulties, how to tell if your baby is getting enough milk and where to get help if you need it.

The session is fully interactive, and you will be able to ask questions and have an opportunity to chat with other expectant parents.

We encourage fathers/partners/a close friend or a family member to attend too - whoever may be supporting you when your baby is born.

Due to limited spaces, we ask that only mothers/ nursing parents and their support (as detailed above), who are booked to have their baby at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, or West Middlesex, book onto the workshop.

Recommended around 34 weeks gestation.

26/02/2026

Introducing another member of our Community Infant Feeding Supporters!

Hi, I’m Lucy — a mum of three. I work within the Community Infant Feeding Team, supporting families at home once they’ve been discharged from hospital.

I’m also an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) and NCT Breastfeeding Counsellor, passionate about guiding families through their feeding journeys.

I understand how overwhelming feeding decisions can feel. I offer compassionate, evidence-based support without judgement.

My Mission

To empower women and families with clear information and gentle guidance, so you can feel confident making the right feeding choices for you and your baby.

25/02/2026

✨Celebrating an Incredible Milestone! 🌟

Today we’re shining a spotlight on an amazing member of our volunteer team, Linda, who has completed 1000 volunteer hours on our Postnatal Ward! 💛

Linda has dedicated her time to supporting new mothers and their babies with breastfeeding, offering reassurance, encouragement, and practical guidance during those precious (and sometimes overwhelming) first days.
From helping with positioning and latching, to simply being a calm and compassionate presence at the bedside, her support has made a real difference to so many families at the very start of their journey together. 🤱✨

Volunteers like Linda are at the heart of what we do. Your kindness, patience, and commitment do not go unnoticed , thank you Linda for giving your time so generously and for helping mothers feel confident and supported.

Here’s to 1000 hours of care, compassion, and community, and hopefully many more to come! 💐👏

20/02/2026

Now that we’ve introduced the Hospital Infant Feeding Team to the grid, it’s time to start with individual introductions to the Community Infant Feeding Team (seen group picture below ⬇️)

Let’s start with Emily!
✨

Hi, my name is Emily and I’ve been working in birth and baby feeding for about 6 years now, and have recently gained my IBCLC qualification. 

My passion for supporting feeding stems from my own experience- the postnatal period can often be so overwhelming and it can be particularly tricky to access clear and reliable information to help navigate this time. 
 
I love working with a range of families to help them to work towards meeting their own individualised plans and goals.  It is such an honour to be able to support new parents during this precious period!
 
My focus is on listening and ensuring parents have support which is personalised to their circumstances and rooted in evidence.  My job takes me out to the community where I support families in their own homes or on the phone, working closely with the community midwives.

15/02/2026

🧶Learning Through Craft = Learning That Sticks! 🧶

On our staff mandatory training, we explored breastfeeding education in a creative way by using hands-on crafts to upskill our amazing midwives and Midwifery Support Workers on various topics, such as constituents of breastmilk, BFI standards, updated protocols, and much, much more.

Why crafts?

✅ Boost engagement
✅ Improve memory retention
✅ Encourage collaboration

Learning became interactive, meaningful, and fun, all while strengthening clinical skills that support mothers and babies 💕

When learning is creative, confidence grows.

When confidence grows, care improves.

Let’s keep innovating in healthcare education ✨

10/02/2026

The Community Infant Feeding Team! 👏✨

If you are in Chelsea Westminster’s Community Midwifery catchment area, and you need Breastfeeding Support, then you may meet Lucy, Emily, Deborah, Rita, or Anna, our Community Infant Feeding supporters, who can help you.

They host a Infant Feeding drop in, every Tuesday:

When 🕦: 10am to 12pm

Where: 🗺️: Ground floor Riverside Market, Fulham Pier, Craven Cottage, SW6 6HH

(entrance via Thames Path through Bishops Park or Stevenage Road)

The drop in clinic is for babies and their families under 28 days old receiving postnatal care from Chelsea and Westminster Hospital

* please bring your red book*
* no appointment needed but no arrivals later than 11.30am*

09/02/2026

06/02/2026

Update from our previous post on the grid after new alert today from food.gov.uk!

⚠️ New product recalls: Aptamil and Cow & Gate first infant milk and follow-on milk.

Danone is recalling several Aptamil and Cow & Gate infant formula and follow-on milk products because cereulide toxin may be present in some batches.

Cereulide can cause rapid onset of nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps. It’s unlikely to be destroyed by boiling water or cooking.
Even if your baby seems well, it is essential to stop using affected products. If the formula was prescribed by a health professional, consult a pharmacist or other medical professional before changing formula.

For a full list of affected products and batch information, visit: https://www.food.gov.uk/news-
alerts/alert/fsa-prin-05-2026

06/02/2026

Update from our previous post on the grid!

⚠️ New product recalls: Aptamil and Cow & Gate first infant milk and follow-on milk.

Danone is recalling several Aptamil and Cow & Gate infant formula and follow-on milk products because cereulide toxin may be present in some batches.

Cereulide can cause rapid onset of nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps. It’s unlikely to be destroyed by boiling water or cooking.
Even if your baby seems well, it is essential to stop using affected products. If the formula was prescribed by a health professional, consult a pharmacist or other medical professional before changing formula.

For a full list of affected products and batch information, visit: https://www.food.gov.uk/news-
alerts/alert/fsa-prin-05-2026