Learn more about how we work to support breastfeeding in the community, and the support services we offer for parents, peer supporters and professionals.

Two mums breastfeeding

How NCT works to support breastfeeding

With over 65 years of experience, NCT is the recognised UK leader in parenting and early days education.

As the UK’s largest parenting charity (registered #801395), we offer in-person, online and helpline support to parents.

Our priorities for breastfeeding support

 

Equip parents with the latest trusted information to support their decision-making needs

 

Help create networks of vital support and life-long friendships with local community events

 

Welcome and support all families, and commit to being an anti-racist, anti-discriminatory charity

NCT trained professionals and volunteers

We support families with our trained professionals and volunteers, including NCT breastfeeding counsellors and NCT breastfeeding peer supporters.

NCT breastfeeding counsellors

NCT breastfeeding counsellors are mothers with lived experience of breastfeeding, who can support parents with complex infant feeding issues. 

They have extensive in-depth counselling skills and infant feeding knowledge, having studied for an average of 2 years. They are trained and accredited by individual organisations, and are sometimes university accredited. 

Our breastfeeding counsellors provide support through the NCT Infant Feeding Line and NCT Baby Café.

NCT breastfeeding peer supporters

Breastfeeding peer supporters are mothers who have lived experience of breastfeeding or have given breastmilk, and wish to support others. 

Peer supporters are NCT trained and accredited by OCN to Level 2 and lead our infant feeding peer support services.

How our breastfeeding peer supporters make a difference

I used the peer supporter when my baby was only a week old as I had really struggled with confidence and whether I was doing things right. I met with the peer online and she was amazing! 

Just having another mum who had breastfed and knew what I was going through and who could answer my questions and worries was fantastic. The best part was the peer telling me that I was doing a great job was the confidence booster I needed to keep going! 

My baby is 11 weeks now and we are both having an amazing breastfeeding journey and a lot of this is because of the support Lothian Breastfeeding Buddies gave me at the start, so thank you!

Service user

Our breastfeeding peer supporters provide invaluable empathetic listening, a friendly face and local knowledge to our residents.

The NCT frequently showcase the brilliant work being delivered to mum’s and families by volunteers, and also demonstrate the impact this is having upon women, infants, and their families which will contribute to long term improvements in their health.

Consultant Lead for Clinical Policies & Children’s Public Health for Cambridge City Council and Peterborough City Council

Support services we offer

At NCT, we offer a wealth of support for local families within the community. We can customise your commissioning needs with any of the following services. 

Our services have a parent-centred approach. We understand and respect each parent’s individual circumstances and support them to make decisions that are right for them. 

Our proven model aims to support parents to feed how they want to, and improve breastfeeding rates.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss any opportunities for customised commissioning, you can email us at programme.delivery@nct.org.uk.

Breastfeeding Counsellor with a parent

Services for parents

Community infant feeding support groups

Community support is the fundamental backbone of normalising breastfeeding. To achieve this, our support groups:

  • help breastfeeding mothers feel comfortable to get out in their communities, knowing they have support on hand
  • offer support for the emotional and social needs of the people attending the group
  • are welcoming, providing a safe space for women to seek support with feeding
  • champion inclusion and diversity

Find out more about our infant feeding peer support.

Telephone support service

The first two weeks are crucial at establishing breastfeeding. It is the most challenging time for mothers to leave the house to receive the support they need. 

We provide a service to offer 48-hour follow up calls and a two week follow up call for mothers breastfeeding at the time of discharge.

Tailored workshops

We offer a variety of antenatal and postnatal workshops tailored for parents. Our aim is to equip parents with evidence-based information about how they might feed their baby.

One-to-one breastfeeding support

We can provide a breastfeeding specialist to give one-to-one support for women with more complex breastfeeding issues that go beyond the remit of the breastfeeding peer supporter.

Services for peer supporters and professionals

Breastfeeding peer support training

We can recruit and deliver breastfeeding peer support training to volunteers in the region. 

We offer OCN London (Open College Network) accredited training to volunteers before they support in the community. They are then equipped with ongoing training and supervision monthly via NCT whilst volunteering for a minimum of 12 months. 

Wider workforce training

We can provide short training sessions for the wider workforce within the region for any employee who might be a touch point for parents during the perinatal breastfeeding journey. 

Maternity ward support

We can work with the Midwifery Infant Feeding team across your region to allow peer supporters to offer information and support to women on the maternity ward. This includes both neonatal and postnatal wards.  

Infant feeding network and support directory

We can take the lead on developing an Infant Feeding Network in your area to ensure connected pathways. This includes an up-to-date printed and digital format of Breastfeeding Pathways support options available for the area.

NCT Infant Feeding Line

When it comes to feeding your baby, we know how physically and emotionally challenging it can be, and it can take time to feel confident. 

If you need information, support or just someone to talk to, give one of our trained breastfeeding counsellors a call on 0300 330 0700.

The line is open every day from 8am to midnight, including bank holidays.