The Breastfeeding Network (UK)

29/10/2026

29/10/2026

A couple of years ago, one of our peer supporters, Emily, chose to share her story of breastfeeding with ADHD 🧡

Emily is not only a BfN peer supporter, she’s also an IBCLC and a mum of two. Her blog offers practical tips and insights that may help others on a similar journey.

Today, we wanted to reshare it in the hope that it will reach more mums who need it:

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/adhd-awareness-month-2024-adhd-and-breastfeeding

We also have information on ADHD and Breastfeeding on our website - find it under Resources >> Factsheets 🧡

[ID 1: BLOG POST. ADHD Awareness Month 2024: ADHD and Breastfeeding. ]

[ID 2: Quote. A common theme when I’ve heard from women with ADHD is that, if everything’s going well, responsive breastfeeding makes their lives so much simpler and easier. There’s no extra equipment to manage or clean and nothing to remember; your baby will simply tell you when they need to feed. However, whilst it’s a natural process, learning to breastfeed takes practice, patience and persistence. From trying to learn a new skill whilst struggling with memory and strong emotions, to the practicalities of positioning and coordination just to get your baby latched when you’re recovering from a difficult birth.]

[ID 3: Need information on taking medication while breastfeeding? The Drugs in Breastmilk team are available to answer your questions every day of the year. Email: [email protected]. Facebook: The Breastfeeding Network Drugs in Breastmilk Service. Instagram: ]

28/10/2026

✨ Hand Expressing ✨

In this video, Samantha from BfN Derbyshire demonstrates how to hand express 💜

Hand expressing can be useful for many reasons. Whether you want to collect colostrum before your baby is born, express a little milk to relieve engorgement, or you don’t want to use a breast pump, it’s a useful skill to learn.

You may also find it helpful to have a peer supporter talk you through hand expressing. You can find our local groups under ‘Get Support’ on our website, or you can contact our National Breastfeeding Helpline UK 24/7 💜

There is more information on expressing and storing milk on our website:
www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/breastfeeding-information/continuing-the-breastfeeding-journey/expressing-and-storing-breastmilk

Please share 💜

27/10/2026

27/10/2026

With the UK Government launching the national ‘Be Ready’ campaign, encouraging households across the country to prepare for emergencies that could temporarily disrupt everyday services, we wanted to share some information for those with young children and babies.

If you’re formula feeding during an emergency situation, ready-made infant formula is the safest option, as it doesn’t need to be mixed with water.

Bottled water isn’t usually recommended for making up infant formula, as it may contain high levels of sodium or sulphates. But if safe drinking water isn’t available, bottled water can be used as an alternative.

Follow the usual guidance of boiling water and allowing it to cool to no less than 70°C before making up bottles. Find more information on making up baby formula on the NHS website:
www.nhs.uk/baby/breastfeeding-and-bottle-feeding/bottle-feeding/making-up-baby-formula/

If you need support on how to feed your baby during an emergency, please contact your midwife, health visitor, or our National Breastfeeding Helpline (available 24/7)
You can find more infant feeding information for emergency situations, including a checklist to help you prepare, on our website:
www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/breastfeeding-information/feeding-your-baby-in-an-emergency-situation/

If you have children under five, please consider signing up for the Priority Services Register, a free UK-wide service providing extra information and support, including when there’s an interruption to your electricity, gas or water supply.
www.thepsr.co.uk/

[ID 1: Preparing infant formula during water supply issues. If there are problems with the water supply, such as it being shut off or unsafe to drink, it’s important to know how to safely prepare formula for your baby.]

[ID 2: When boiled tap water is safe to drink. If you are advised to boil your tap water to make it safe to drink, you can use it to prepare formula once it has been boiled. In this situation, boiled water should also be used for washing and sterilising bottles.]

[ID 3: Tap water supply is off or unsafe to drink . If your household water is off, or your tap water is not safe to use, you can use boiled bottled ‘still’ water to prepare formula, or use ready-made formula if you prefer.]

[ID 4: Using bottled water to make up formula. Always follow the use-by date, and store in the fridge once opened.]

26/10/2026

Good morning!

With Halloween just around the corner, today we're feeling spooky!

Cluster feeding, night waking, and sore ni***es... breastfeeding can have its scary moments 🎃

If you need support, our peer supporters are here to help!

If your local service is taking a break for half term, keep an eye on their socials for updates on when they're back.

But you don't need to wait for support!

Our National Breastfeeding Helpline UK is open 24/7, all year round:

📞0300 100 0212
💬 Send them a DM

Want to share your Halloween breastfeeding stories or pictures? We'd love to see them in the comments!

[ID 1: A mum breastfeeding in a pumpkin field. .]

[ID 2: We're open. Need infant feeding support over half term? National Breastfeeding Helpline. 0300 100 0212. Sunsetting over a pumpkin field.]

24/10/2026

Don't forget the clocks go back tonight 💜

If you need infant feeding support, our National Breastfeeding Helpline UK is still here for you all night and through to the morning.

For information on medication, treatments and medical procedures, please message The Breastfeeding Network Drugs in Breastmilk Service (replies usually within 24 hours).

[ID: Alarm clock background. Reminder: the clocks go back this weekend.]

23/10/2026

With weather warnings across the UK, today we’re sharing information to help you be prepared to feed your baby or young child in an emergency 💜

Our page, ‘Feeding Your Baby in an Emergency Situation’, covers:

✨ Breastfeeding in emergency situations
✨ Formula feeding in emergency situations
✨ Using expressed breastmilk in emergency situations
✨ Sterilising feeding equipment

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/breastfeeding-information/feeding-your-baby-in-an-emergency-situation/

If you have children under five, please consider signing up for the Priority Services Register, a free UK-wide service providing extra information and support, including when there’s an interruption to your electricity, gas or water supply:
www.thepsr.co.uk

For more information on planning for emergencies:

GOV.UK Prepare
prepare.campaign.gov.uk/get-prepared-for-emergencies/

Ready Scotland
ready.scot/prepare/emergency-plan

Wales Safer Communities Network
safercommunities.wales/public-safety/civil-contingencies/

If you need support feeding your baby during an emergency, please contact your midwife, health visitor, or our National Breastfeeding Helpline UK (available 24/7).

Please share 💜

[ID 1: Planning for Emergencies. Being prepared for emergencies is particularly important if you have young children. Babies and toddlers are completely dependent on a trusted adult for their needs.]

[ID 2: It can be more difficult for you to evacuate with younger children in an emergency. Babies under 6 months are especially vulnerable, as their only nutrition is breast or formula milk.

You can find guidance on how to prepare for emergencies here:
• GOV.UK Prepare
• Ready Scotland
• Wales Safer Communities Network.]

[ID 3: Parents with young children. The Priority Services Register is a free UK wide service that provides information and support for parents with children under five.]

[ID 4: Support feeding your baby in an emergency. Contact your midwife, health visitor, or our National Breastfeeding Helpline for support. We also have information on our website about preparing for emergencies.]

23/10/2026

Today, for we’ve joined forces with our partners The Breastfeeding Network (UK) to highlight how children with Down syndrome can be breastfeed, despite some of the myths you may hear 💛🧡💚💜

Mum Laura shared with us:
Knowing about Lottie’s potential diagnosis of Down syndrome meant I spent my pregnancy researching & asking questions to current parents whose babies or children had Down syndrome, mainly on DSUK Facebook groups.

Professionals warned me that breastfeeding a baby who had Down syndrome may be difficult due to muscle tone and other potential issues. Regardless, I still wanted to breastfeed her. I was induced three weeks early & the moment Lottie was in my arms she latched. She knew exactly what to do & knew exactly what she wanted, impressing all the midwives, doctors and NICU staff.

Despite the amazing start of our breastfeeding journey, Lottie did have her struggles. She struggled to gain weight, she struggled with being very tired when feeding so she wasn't getting enough milk. We were advised to give her top ups while we were admitted. Stubbornly, I didn't want to give her formula in her tops. So I began pumping, trying to get enough for her tops was difficult, tiring and sometimes painful due to the lack of milk I was producing. We administered her tops via finger feeding which she took very well. However, due to tiredness we decided to give her top ups with a bottle. Thankfully, Lottie still latched very well.

Lottie started putting on the weight and is now still breastfeeding at nearly 11 months still with extra breast milk top ups! She's just started getting teeth so we've now entered the piranha stage. However, I'm so proud of our journey and love our bond from breastfeeding 💛🧡💚💜

You can find all of our breastfeeding resources here: https://downsyndromeuk.co.uk/health/feeding/ 💛

You can find the thebreastfeedingnetworkuk’s resources via the link in their bio 💜

And contact the nationalbreastfeedinghelpline on ☎️ 0300 100 0212 ☎️ for help and advice 24/7 🩷

📷A woman takes a selfie whilst breastfeeding.

22/10/2026

✨ New Vacancies ✨

Our Dorset service is recruiting a new Peer Supporter to offer in-person infant feeding support at our groups and online.

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/job/bfn2027-27-peer-supporter-dorset-closing-date-03-11-2026/

We are also recruiting a Community Peer Supporter for our new peer support group for parents in Girvan - working with our Ayrshire service.

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/job/bfn2027-28-community-peer-supporter-girvan-closing-date-03-11-2026/

There's still time to apply for the Service Manager role for our new service in Newport!

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/job/bfn2027-26-service-manager-newport-closing-date-03-11-2026/

Find out more about all of our vacancies on our website: Get Involved >> Vacancies

Please share💜

[ID 1: VACANCIES. Closing Date 3rd November. Peer Supporter (Dorset). Our Dorset Peer Supporter offers in person infant feeding support at our groups and alongside health visitors in Dorchester, Weymouth and Wareham, as well as online support.The successful candidate will work closely with volunteers, health care professionals and the wider BfN Dorset team to offer non-judgemental and evidence based support and information to parents. Find out more:
www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/recruitment.]

[ID 2: VACANCIES. Closing Date 3rd November. Community Peer Supporter (Girvan). This role will involve working with the Ayrshire Service Manager to identify an appropriate venue for the new group, getting the group set up and then working alongside new BfN volunteers to run the group each week. It will also involve developing relationships with local organisations and families to help increase awareness of this new local support. Find out more:
www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/recruitment.]

[ID 3: VACANCIES. Closing Date 3rd November. Service Manager (Newport)
We are looking for passionate and motivated Service Manager to lead and develop the breastfeeding peer support service, take responsibility for maintaining good working relationships with the local Health Board, council and third sector partners and ensure that all reporting obligations are met. Find out more:
www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/recruitment.]