NHS Shetland Maternity Unit

23/07/2026

Wow!! A big thank you for the nomination for the community hero’s award - we were lucky enough to win!⭐️

Thank you to the Picnic Press for our lovely certificate and bag of goodies!! 🩷

08/07/2026

Everyone in maternity wants to wish Hannah - one of our lovely midwives - all the very best as she starts her maternity leave 🥰🩷🩵

27/06/2026

Congratulations to both Siobhan and Vickki on achieving their maternity care assistant qualification with distinction!

They are an asset to our team in Maternity 🥳

17/06/2026

Did you experience continuity of care from your midwife/team?

The Scottish government are gathering information about continuity in maternity care.

See the poster below for details on how to take part and answer some questions about your experience in Shetland or Aberdeen!

16/06/2026

A day to celebrate our student midwives🎉

Today we had a tea party to celebrate the dedication, passion, care and commitment of our student midwives to shape the future of maternity care 💕

Gillian is one of our third year students who will be joining the maternity team in Shetland as a newly qualified midwife very soon! We are grateful to have her continue as a valued team member 🎉

14/06/2026

National Breastfeeding Helpline - open 24
hours every day

The National Breastfeeding Helpline offers friendly, non-judgemental, independent, evidence based breastfeeding support and information to anyone in the UK who needs it.

We’re here for you on every step on your breastfeeding journey however old your baby is, one day, one week, one month, one year old or more.

Calls to the Helpline cost no more than calls to UK numbers starting 01 or 02 and are part of any inclusive minutes that apply to your mobile provider or call package.
Support is also available in Welsh, Polish, Bengali & Sylheti and for people who have hearing or speech impairments.

Open 24 hours a day, call 0300 100 0212

Find out more: https://www.nationalbreastfeedinghelpline.org.uk/get-in-touch/

14/06/2026

Breastfeeding Support Across Scotland

Across Scotland, we have over 150 breastfeeding support groups a week. Whether their supporters are trained by NHS, The Breastfeeding Network, La Leche League, Breast Buddies, The Association of Breastfeeding Mothers or NCT, you can be sure of a warm welcome, and if you have any questions, trained supporters are on hand with a listening ear.

You can find all the groups available across Scotland on this interactive map

We have created this map to help mothers / parents across Scotland to identify venues that are signed up to the Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland Scheme. You can feed your baby anywhere that you are your baby are legally allowed to be in Scotland but if you are anxious about feeding out and about, loo...

13/06/2026

Responsiveness & Attunement

New babies have a strong need to be close to their parents, as this helps them to feel secure and loved.

When babies feel secure, they release a hormone called oxytocin (the love hormone). This acts like a fertiliser for their growing brain, helping them to be happy babies and more confident children and adults.

Holding, smiling and talking to your baby also releases oxytocin in you, which helps you to feel calm and happy.

Holding, smiling & talking to your baby releases a hormone called oxytocin in both parent and baby.

Oxytocin helps both parent and baby to feel calm and happy and helps boost baby’s brain development.

▪️Helps form a bond between mother and baby.
▪️It is what mother & baby secrete when you cuddle your child, breastfeed and give birth.
▪️It reduces stress levels.
▪️It reduces pain sensitivity.
▪️It has an effect on our general health by lowering our blood pressure and boosting our immune systems.
▪️Breastfeeding stimulates the release of oxytocin into your system which will cause the muscles in your breast to contract allowing the let down of your milk to occur

12/06/2026

Breastfeeding is a powerful, natural way to support a baby’s growth and immunity while promoting maternal health and strengthening emotional bonds.

Its benefits extend beyond the family to society as a whole. Breastfeeding is more than just feeding!

How breastfeeding helps you as a mam

💕 Lower cancer risk
▪️Breastfeeding helps protect your health long‑term.
▪️The longer you breastfeed, the lower your risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
▪️Even a few months makes a difference.

❤️ Heart and diabetes protection
▪️Mothers who breastfeed are less likely to develop type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure later in life.

🤍 Recovery after birth
▪️Breastfeeding releases hormones that help your womb shrink back, reduce bleeding, and support bonding and emotional wellbeing.
▪️It boosts your oxytocin and dopamine levels which helps to lowers the stress hormone (cortisol), reduces blood pressure, and decreases anxiety and fear. It helps you feel calmer and more relaxed.

How breastfeeding benefits your baby

🛡️ Protection from infections
▪️Babies who are breastfed are much less likely to be admitted to hospital with tummy bugs, chest infections or ear infections, especially in the first year of life.

🌙 Safer sleep
▪️Breastfeeding greatly reduces the risk of cot death (SIDS). Research has shown that any amount of breastfeeding helps.

🌱 Health now and in the future
▪️Breastfed babies are less likely to develop obesity and diabetes as they grow older.

🩸 Serious illnesses
▪️Children who were breastfed are less likely to develop some rare but serious illnesses, including certain childhood cancers.

💩 Gentle on little tummies
▪️Breastmilk is easy to digest and helps babies develop a healthy gut, which supports their immune system.

🌟 Benefits for both of you
▪️Breastfeeding supports close bonding and emotional connection
▪️It responds directly to your baby’s needs
▪️Breast milk is always ready, safe, and made specifically for your baby's needs

11/06/2026

Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland

The Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland scheme is a national initiative supported by the Scottish Government and implemented by local NHS Boards. It aims to create a welcoming environment for breastfeeding families in public spaces like cafés, restaurants, and other businesses. The scheme has over 3700 businesses across
Scotland who have signed up. This widespread participation helps create a supportive environment for breastfeeding families in public spaces.

We are proud of how far we've come. It truly is a collective effort between NHS and our Third Sector partners to improve and ensure breastfeeding is an integral part of our communities and society. These improvements indicate a positive trend in breastfeeding rates across Scotland and suggest schemes like Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland are having a beneficial impact on families and communities.

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