Breastfeeding support in Norfolk

This week we met with a lady from Norfolk County Council Public Health to ask her about the changes in breastfeeding support for mothers in Norfolk. When Suffolk ladies leave the James Paget Hospital (JPUH), they receive a telephone call from the Breastfeeding Team within a few days to ask how they are getting on and offer a home visit if they need further support with feeding. From my own experience, it really does feel like you are supported every step of the way.

When Norfolk ladies leave the hospital, there has been confusion about what support they can receive. When calling the Suffolk hotline the team have to unfortunately turn them away and signpost them to services in Norfolk. 

​The upshot of the response was that there is still support out there for Norfolk mums-  but it has now been transferred to the Health Visitors. The official response they have asked us to pass on is:

"In Norfolk, breastfeeding support is available via a Breastfeeding Practitioner and the Health Visitor Teams by telephone call, a home visit or clinic appointment. If you require breastfeeding support in Great Yarmouth locality, contact Mandi, Breastfeeding Practitioner on 07929 330165 or speak to your Health Visitor. There is a drop-in baby café every weekday in the Great Yarmouth and surrounding areas. To find out where your nearest baby café is, visit www.norfolk.gov.uk/norfolkslivingwell. There is also a national breastfeeding hotline on 0300 100 0212 open 9:30am-9:30pm every day of the year. The breastfeeding rates at 6-8 weeks are monitored for all localities in Norfolk. It would be useful to hear feedback from local women on the support they have received."

We at Birth Voices are happy to pass on any feedback (positive or negative) from local women on how this is working. Email us on birthvoiceseast@yahoo.co.uk or use the contact form on this website.

Anyway, we just wanted to let you all know who to contact if you need help! 

We also have a feedback survey on this page, so your experience of local maternity care can help JPH learn what is working well and what needs improving, so others can benefit from improved maternity care.

Thanks for reading,
Your 'Birth Voices' team x

Link to feedback survey