Before giving birth, you can prepare by understanding how you'll feed your baby.
It can take time to feel confident about feeding your baby, especially if you are breastfeeding, but help is available from your midwife, health visitor, HENRY Infant Feeding team and local breastfeeding support groups.
Baby Feeding Friendly Spaces - a welcoming space for new parents
The council has launched a new Baby Feeding Friendly Spaces scheme to reassure parents that libraries and Best Start Family Hubs are welcoming spaces where they can breastfeed, bottle-feed or express milk.
Support with feeding
HENRY Infant Feeding is a Waltham Forest-based team who can give you one-to-one support to help you feed your baby.
You can contact their Infant Feeding Helpline (open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) with any questions about feeding, before or after your baby arrives, on 020 7961 9073. They offer phone and video support.
They offer support in pregnancy, including antenatal workshops on preparing to feed your baby.
If you have your baby at Whipps Cross hospital, HENRY infant feeding team work alongside midwives to provide infant feeding information and support Monday to Saturday on Mulberry Ward to help get feeding off to a good start. Please ask your midwife for more information.
Find out more about what support is available in Waltham Forest on HENRY's Support in Pregnancy webpage.
HENRY have a dedicated helpline, staffed by local practitioners who are available to support you through phone, WhatsApp or video calls.
- Monday to Friday: 9am to 5pm
Get in touch at 0207 961 9073 to speak to the team in Waltham Forest.
Find out more about how to feed your baby (by breastfeeding, bottle feeding, or a mix of both) on the NHS Feeding webpage.
Find out more about introducing your baby to solid foods (weaning) on the NHS Weaning webpage.
Staff support materials
We've issued support materials for staff on infant feeding. Please find that below.