Breastfeeding

Face to face breastfeeding hubs

We run breastfeeding hubs at several locations in Lewisham. 

These are drop-in sessions, with no appointment required. Please note that The Village hub at Corbett Library, and the Leander Centre hub run in term only, and will be closed until September.

  • Monday, 1-3pm at Downderry Children’s Centre, Shroffold Road, Bromley, BR1 5PD

  • Tuesday, 1-3pm at Bellingham Children’s Centre, 109 Randlesdown Road, SE6 3HB 

  • Wednesday, 10am-12 midday at Lee Health Centre, 2 Handen Road, SE12 8NP

  • Thursday, 10am-12 midday at the Evelyn Children’s Centre, 231 Grove Street, Deptford, SE8 3PZ 

  • Thursday, 10am-12 midday at The Leander Centre, Ship Street, Deptford, SE8 4DH

  • Friday, 10am-12 midday at the Ladywell Children's Centre, 30 Rushy Mead, SE4 1JJ

  • Friday, 12 midday-2pm at Quaggy Breastfeeding Hub, Parkside Community Centre, Parkside Avenue, Lewisham, SE10 8GF (opposite Quaggy Children’s Centre) £2 voluntary cost.

Christmas and New Year opening time changes

  • Ladywell breastfeeding hub will be closed on Friday 27 December 2024 and Friday 3 January 2025 
  • Evelyn Hub will be closed on Thursday 26 December 2024 and Thursday 2 January 2025

For the latest information on clinic opening times, or any planned closures, please visit: Breastfeeding - Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Health Visitors

Breastfeeding is the most natural start to life for a baby and can have lifelong health benefits for both mother and baby. 

Breastfeeding protects the baby against ear and chest infections, stomach upsets, diarrhoea, asthma, eczema, allergies and even obesity. Breastfeeding mothers are less likely to develop breast and ovarian cancer and osteoporosis later in life.

Babies don’t need anything but breast milk for the first six months to provide all the necessary nutrition. Giving anything else will decrease the supply of breast milk and lessen the health benefits of breastfeeding.

Solids can be introduced alongside the usual milk feeds from six months, when the baby’s development shows they are ready to cope with solids well. The Department of Health recommends breastfeeding for at least two years, as it continues to provide both significant nutrition and protection from illnesses.
 

On this page you can find information on: 

UNICEF Baby Friendly

Lewisham and Greenwich health visiting services have Stage 3 UNICEF Baby Friendly accreditation for breastfeeding. Queen Elizabeth Hospital has also achieved full Baby Friendly Stage 3 accreditation. This is a fantastic and very prestigious achievement for the Trust.

The UNICEF Baby Friendly Standards aim to improve the information, support and encouragement provided in order to promote, protect and support breastfeeding and appropriate introduction to solid foods. This means that midwives, health visitors and other health and professionals receive high quality Baby Friendly training to support breastfeeding mothers effectively. For more information on the UNICEF Baby Friendly initiative please see UNICEF: The Baby Friendly Initiative

 

Top tips for breastfeeding

  • Keep your baby close, with as much skin-to-skin contact as possible
  • Babies like to breastfeed often, some very often!  This does not mean that your milk supply is not enough.  Babies like some feeds to be ‘meals’ and others to be ‘snacks’, just like adults.
  • It is not possible to overfeed a breastfed baby.
  • Be sure to get the right latch – checking that your baby is attached correctly to the breast is crucial for comfortable and successful breastfeeding. If you’re feeling pain throughout the feed, your baby’s latch may not be correct. Remember CHIN:
    Close and chin leading
    Head free
    In line
    Nose to nipple
  • Feel reassured that your baby will be getting enough milk if they are feeding at least eight times in 24 hours and they have at least six wet and two dirty nappies daily (from one week old; before this, babies may feed more and have produce more urine and stools)
  • Always seek help if you have any concerns, especially if you have pain when your baby feeds.
     

Returning to work

If you are thinking of returning to work or study and you want to continue to breastfeed, you should be able to express and store your milk in a safe place. If you would like further information, please attend one of the breastfeeding hubs.
 

Breastfeeding peer supporters

Are you a current or previous breastfeeding mother, passionate about breastfeeding and keen to use your knowledge and experience to support other Lewisham mothers on their breastfeeding journey?

The breastfeeding peer supporter course gives learners a nationally recognised open college network qualification which, along with the volunteer experience and up to date references, could help with job opportunities or as a route into further education.

The course is open to mothers of all ages and backgrounds to enable them to widen their knowledge, skills, and experience to support breastfeeding in Lewisham.

To apply for the peer supporter course, you do not need any qualifications, all we ask is that you have had some experience of breastfeeding your baby and a passion and commitment to volunteer and support other Lewisham mothers.

Once qualified, you will receive regular supervision and ongoing training, with the course often opening the door to many other volunteering and career opportunities.

The peer supporter course consists of a two-hour session per week, run over seven weeks online. For information on day and time of sessions, log onto the Breastfeeding Network or email: training@breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk

Alternatively, please email Anthea Tennant-Eyles (Breastfeeding Network) at: anthea.tennant-eyles@breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk.
 

Lewisham 'Breastfeeding Welcome' Scheme

To enable mothers to feel confident and welcomed when breastfeeding out and about in Lewisham, the Health Visiting service runs a ‘Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme’ for local businesses to sign up to. 

When a venue signs up to our Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme and displays the green and white sticker it’s a clear message to you as a breastfeeding mum, “You are welcome to breastfeed your baby here.” 

Below is a list of the Lewisham venues signed up for the scheme, by postcode:

SE8

Evelyn Parents Forum @ Deptford Park Play Club, 23 Scawen Road, Deptford, SE8 5AG

The Albany Arts Centre & Café, Douglas Way, Deptford, SE8 4AG

Deli X, 156 Deptford High Street, SE8 3PQ

2000 Community Action Centre, 199-201 Grove Street, Deptford, SE8

SE14

Waldron Health Centre, Amersham Vale, New Cross, SE14 6LD    

Telegraph Hill Playclub, Erlanger Road, SE14 5TY

Telegraph Hill Centre, Pepys Road, SE14 5TY

Amersham Vale Practice, Waldron Health Centre, New Cross, SE14 6LD      

SE4

Vesta Road Surgery, 58 Vesta Road, New Cross, SE4 2NH

Arlo & Moe, 340 Brockley Road, Brockley, SE4 2BT

Browns of Brockley, 5-6 Coulgate Street, Brockley, SE4 2RW

Freds, 358 Brockley Road, Crofton Park, SE4 2BY

Brockley Road Surgery, 465-467 Brockley Road, Brockley, SE4 2PJ

Hillyfields Medical Group, 172 Adelaide Avenue, Brockley, SE4 1JN

SE13

Step by Step Day Nursery, Benden House, Monument Gardens, SE13 6PY

Pistachios in the Park, Hilly Fields, 10A Somerset Gardens, Lewisham, SE13 7JN

Cissy Wears, 212a Hither Green Lane, Hither Green, SE13 6RT

Arlo & Moe, 60 Springbank Road, Hither Green, SE13 6SN

ArtsCafé, Manor Park, Hither Green, SE13 5QZ
Pistachio's in the Park, Manor House Gardens, Old Road, Hither Green, SE13 5TA

Le Delice Café, 38 Ladywell Road, Lewisham, SE13 7UZ            

Pistachio’s in the Park, 47 Vicars Hill, Ladywell, SE13 7JN     

Bella Roma, 13 Lewis Grove, Lewisham, SE13 6BG

Lewisham Toy Library, Shop 46, Molesworth Street, SE13 7EP

SE23

Kilmorie Childrens Centre, Kilmorie Primary School, Kilmorie Road, Forest Hill, SE23 2SP

Ackroyd Community Centre, 42b Ackroyd Road, Forest Hill, SE23 1DL

Aga’s Little Deli, 49a Dartmouth Road, Forest Hill, SE23 3HN

Forest Hill Pools, Dartmouth Road, Forest Hill, SE23 3HZ

SE12 

Archibalds Café, 164 Manor Lane, Hither Green, SE12 8LP

Little Pumpkins, 88 Woodyates Road, Lee, SE12 9JH

SE6 

La Pizzeria Italiana Ltd, Eros House, Brownhill Road, Catford, SE6 2EG

Saigon Foods, 24 Catford Broadway, Catford, SE6 4SN

Small Wonders Day Care, 89 Bromley Road, Catford, SE6 2UF

The Broadway Dental Practice, 23 Catford Broadway, SE6 4SN

Good Food Deli, Sandhurst Market, 7 Sandhurst Road, SE6 1DL

Abbotshall Healthy Lifestyle Centre, Abbotshall Road, Catford, SE6 1SQ

Corbett Community Centre & Library, Torridon Road, SE6 1RQ

Park View Café, 32 Randlesdown Road, Bellingham, SE6 3BD

Bellingham Green GP Surgery, 24 Bellingham Green, Catford, SE6 3JB

La Ciabatta, 119 Rushey Green, Catford, SE6 4AA   

Novum Health Partnership, The Primary Care Centre, Hawstead Road, SE6 4JH

Graces Day Nursery, 145 Perry Hill, Catford, SE6 4LP

Apple Tree Community Café, Goldsmiths Community Centre, Castillon Road, SE6 1QD

The Broadway Café, 12 Catford Broadway, Catford, SE6 4SP

Kaleidoscope, 32 Rushey Green, Catford, SE6 4JD

SE3

 Blackheath Age Exchange, 11 Blackheath Village, Blackheath, SE3 9LA

BR3 

 The Homestead Café, Beckenham Place Park, Beckenham BR3 5BP

BR1

Oakview Family Practice, 190 Shroffold Road, BR1 5NJ     

Little Lambs Pre-School, Good Shepherd Church Hall, Downham, BR1 5EP


Useful links to online support