Brentford Breastfeeding Model
By Sallie Winterbach, Specialist Health Visitor
Hounslow and Richmond Community Healthcare NHS Trust
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Background information:
Nationally
Breastfeeding has a major role to play in public health, promoting health in both the short
and long term for baby and mother. However in the UK we have one of the lowest rates of
breastfeeding worldwide, especially among families from disadvantaged groups (Infant
Feeding Survey 2010).
Locally
Hounslow and Richmond Community Health Care Trust has always been committed to
improving rates of breastfeeding as well as the duration of breastfeeding. One of the major
influences on whether a mother successfully breastfeeds is the support she receives – and
so a primary aim of this project was to create a coordinated support programme that
promotes and supports breastfeeding within the local community.
Before the project launch
Child health clinics within the trust are available for all
parents of children aged between birth and five years.
These clinics are very popular and extremely busy which
does not always allow for enough time to fully offer
support for breastfeeding. A variety of health issues can
be discussed at these clinics, e.g. discussion about
weight, eczema, behaviour modification, sleep issues,
food/weaning, domestic violence.
We identified that more support was needed to
promote/support the breastfeeding agenda. This would
ensure improved outcomes for mothers wanting to
breastfeed and support those who may not have
considered breastfeeding.
Why Breastfeed?
Helps protect you against:
 Breast cancer
 Weak bones later in life
 Ovarian cancer
 Helps you lose weight
quickly
 Delays return of periods
Helps protect your baby
against:
 Ear infections
 Asthma
 Eczema
 Chest infections
 Obesity
 Gastro-intestinal infection
 Childhood diabetes
 Urine infections
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The Midwifery Drop-in/Breastfeeding Support Clinic Model:
The special breastfeeding clinic was set up so that mothers could access it separately from
the Child Health Clinic and therefore get practical help, advice, and support from
breastfeeding specialists from the health visiting team alongside the midwives postnatal
discharge clinic.
These clinics are set up at the local children’s centres away from the Doctors surgeries in a
welcoming, relaxed atmosphere. Special breastfeeding chairs where purchased and
refreshments are freely available.
Benefits of multiagency working for mothers
The mothers respond extremely well to this
comfortable setting. This favourable environment
enhances the confidence of the mothers which is
conducive to successful breastfeeding. There is an
added bonus where mothers make new friends with a
common bond i.e. new baby and breastfeeding
experiences. Moreover this clinic provides support for
mothers who may be experiencing postnatal
depression or other related mental health issues.
The mother and child bonding process is enhanced
when support such as this is readily available to new
breastfeeding mothers.
The preventative work done as a result of these special
clinics is invaluable.
“I attend the support group as
my 14 week old daughter has
not quite grasped the ability
to breastfeed well. The
group has been fantastic not only have I received
some invaluable advice, I
have also met other mums
with similar breastfeeding
issues and it's nice to know
I’m not alone. It has been
great to chat and receive this
support within the
community.”
Tracy Beagarie, Chiswick
The Department of Health informs mothers that
breastfeeding is best for their babies and this model is a tried, tested and successful way of
ensuring specialist help is available locally in order to support breastfeeding mothers in this
physical and emotional shift in their lives which sadly is not available nationally.
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Why we approached the Florence Nightingale Foundation:
The objective of this project was to provide the same service to mothers in neighbouring
parts of the Borough.
The Brentford area already had a breastfeeding support service which was poorly attended.
Comparing the breastfeeding support service in Brentford with the clinic model above, it
was apparent though our snap shot survey that due to lack of multiagency involvement the
clinic was not meeting the needs of the service users.
With funding from the Florence Nightingale Foundation and the London Network for Nurses
and Midwives we were able to:




Provide staff with specialist breastfeeding training through UNICEF
Purchase Fit for Purpose Breastfeeding Chairs
Pillows and footstools for comfortable positioning when breastfeeding
Knitted breasts and dollies for demonstrating positioning and attachment techniques.
As a result of this funding the Brentford Breastfeeding Clinic increased its attendance by
96%.
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Proposed model:
The model below illustrates the various routes on how to access the Midwifery
Postnatal Breastfeeding Support Clinic:
Postnatal Ward
Other Mothers,
Grandparents,
Neighbours…
Hospitals
Midwifery Postnatal
Breast Feeding Support
Clinic
Midwife
Maternity
Support
Workers
Health Visitors
Staff Nurses
Nursery Nurse
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Children’s
Centres
Birth Centres
GP Surgeries
Conclusions:
Whilst we recognise that almost all mothers are
aware that breastfeeding is the best way to feed
their baby - putting the additional support into
place is going to make it a reality.
Breastfeeding is the best start a mother can
give her child. Any negative influences of
friends and family, who may not have breastfed,
often contributes to these mothers ceasing to
breastfeed. It is now evident that the support,
encouragement and evidence-based
information that mother’s receive while coming
to the support groups encourages them to
continue to breastfeed.
“The support I have
received from the
breastfeeding group has
been invaluable. The
group gave me such
confidence to be able to
continue to breastfeed for
much longer than I initially
thought would be possible.
I am very happy to have
been given the opportunity
to give my son the best
nutritional start in life.”
Vanessa Maag, Chiswick
Mothers have benefitted from a multiagency
approach by being able to access this model of
breastfeeding support at a variety of sites across the Trust. By being able to
offer early and continuous breastfeeding support to these mothers contributes
towards the Trusts aims in achieving Government targets for breastfeeding.
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References:

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (2006) Routine Postnatal care of
Women and their Babies. Available at:
www.nice.org.uk?CG037

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (2008) Standards for maternity
care – Reporting for a working party. Available at:
http://www.rcog.org.uk/resources/pubic/pdf/MATStandards WPR0608.pdf

UNICEF (2008) Baby Friendly Best Practice Standards for Maternity and
Community Healthcare Facilities. Available at:
www.babyfriendly.org.uk/index .asp

World Health Organisation (Revised edition 2004) Evidence for the Ten Steps to
successful Breastfeeding. Available at:
http://www.who.int/child adolescent health/documents/9241591544/en/index.html.

Horta B, Bahi R, Martines J, Cesar V, (2007) Evidence on the Long Term Effects of
Breastfeeding; systematic reviews and meta-analyses. WHO

Renfrew M (2011) Infant Feeding Survey 2010 London The Health and Social Care
Information Centre 2011
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