Our Breastfeeding Peer Support Service, BFF, is available to all breastfeeding women.

Breastfeeding Peer Support is mother to mother support given by women who have breastfed (or are still breastfeeding) and would like to support other mothers on their breastfeeding journey. It is a texting and/or phone call support service.

All our volunteers have completed a training course and are registered with the South Eastern HSC Trust Volunteer Service.

Our Breastfeeding Peer Support Link Worker (PSLW) will either see you on the postnatal ward in the Ulster Hospital Maternity Unit or she will phone you after discharge home from the unit.

The PSLW will explain what the service offers and ask if you would like to be put in contact with a Breastfeeding Peer Supporter.

If you have your baby in another Trust they will be able to make a referral to our PSLW through their link worker.

If you initially decline the service but change your mind at any stage please contact the Breastfeeding Peer Support Link Worker on 07855 169707.

For more information CLICK HERE

Meet our specialist support teams

Lisburn area – Fridays 10am – 12pm, in Lagan Valley Midwife Led Unit, Lagan Valley Hospital (suitable for babies up to 6 weeks). Mondays 9:30am – 11am, at 9 Market Place, Lisburn, BT28 1AN (suitable for babies up to 1 year of age).  This group will not run on 13/07/26 and 31/08/26.

Saintfield/Killyleagh area – 1^st and 3^rd   Wednesday of each month 10:30am – 12pm, in Saintfield Health Centre (suitable for babies up to 1 year of age). 2^nd and 4^th Wednesday of each month 10:30am – 12pm, in Killyleagh Health Centre (suitable for babies up to 1 year of age).  This group will not run on 08/07/26 and 15/07/26.

Newtownards area – Fridays 10.30am – 11.30am in Ards Hospital Maternity Hub (suitable for babies up to 6 weeks). Fridays 11:30am – 12:30pm in Ards Hospital Maternity Hub (suitable for babies up to 1 year of age). There are no changes to this group in the summer period.

Bangor area – 1^st and 3^rd Thursday of each month 11am – 12:30pm in 22 Hamilton Road, Bangor (suitable for babies up to 1 year of age). This group will not be running in July.

Hillsborough New Parent Group: Hillsborough Village Centre weekly on Thursday mornings 11:30 to 12:30.

Maghaberry New Parent Group: Maghaberry Community Centre weekly on Monday mornings 10:00 to 11:00.

Both groups are facilitated by health visiting and provide support/advice on all types of infant feeding and other issues.  Hillsborough and Maghaberry groups will not be running in July or August.

SureStart Breastfeeding Support Groups:
(All breastfeeding mothers welcome)

Kircubbin – 1^st and 3^rd Monday of each month 9:30am -10:30am, in Maxwells Courtyard, 35 Main Street, Kircubbin, BT22 2SR. There are no changes to this group in the Summer.

Colin – Wednesdays 10am – 11am at Colin Family Centre, Pembroke Road, Dunmurry, BT17 0PH (suitable for babies up to 1 year of age). Wednesdays 11am – 12pm at Colin Family Centre, Pembroke Road, Dunmurry, BT17 0PH (suitable for babies and toddlers). This group will not be running on 08/07/26, 15/07/26 and 19/08/26.

Downpatrick – Mondays 9.30am – 10.30am in Down SureStart, 5-7 Mount Crescent, Downpatrick BT30 6AF.  This group will not be running on 13/07/26 and 31/08/26.

Due to venues as well as considering the safety and well being of all who attend please see the suitable ages stated. These groups are consistently reviewed and if a need for change is identified this will be considered.

See https://www.instagram.com/lalecheleagueni?igsh=cm4zMzltcm51Y3Zp or

La Leche League Ireland – Northern Ireland Support Groups | Carrickfergus | Facebook

for further details.

Maternity Unit Ulster Hospital: 02890550469 or 02890550403 (24hrs/7 days a week)

Midwife Led Unit LVH: 02892633534 (Monday –Friday 8am-8pm, Weekends and Bank Holidays 8am-5pm)

Midwife Led Unit DPK: 02844616995 (Monday –Friday 8am-8pm, Weekends and Bank Holidays 8am-5pm)

National Breastfeeding Helpline: 0300 100 0212 30 am- 24hrs/7 days a week, also on Instagram and Facebook. (A call to an 0300 number costs the same as a call to a normal home or business landline.  If your phone includes free calls to landlines, calls to 0300 numbers will be part of this)

Webchat service at www.nationalbreastfeedinghelpline.org.uk

Lisburn Breastfeeding Support Group Facebook page: Lisburn breastfeeding support group

Breastfeeding in Northern Ireland Facebook page: https://m.facebook.com/BreastfeedinginNI

La Leche League Ireland-Northern Ireland Facebook: La Leche League Ireland – Northern Ireland Support Groups | Carrickfergus | Facebook

or La Leche League Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lalecheleagueni?igsh=cm4zMzltcm51Y3Zp

Feeding Your Baby – South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust (hscni.net)

Breastfeeding Information – The Breastfeeding Network

https://thebreastfeedingcompanion.com/

Becoming new parents can seem overwhelming and for a new mum learning a new skill like breastfeeding can add to this. Even experienced mothers can have difficulties juggling the needs of a new baby with older children.

At this time practical support is the best support you can give as the new mother recovers from the birth, adapts and takes the time to establish breastfeeding. Initially the baby will want to feed often when they are awake and the mother may only manage to eat, sleep and feed the baby.  This is normal and important to help establish a good milk supply. Click on the leaflets below to see how you can help to support the new mum in your life.

Information for Partners:

https://setrust.hscni.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/What-Dads-Should-Know-About-Breastfeeding.pdf

Information for grandparents (can also be useful for friends and other relatives):

https://setrust.hscni.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Grandparents-Guide-to-Breastfeeding.pdf

Check out these short videos developed by the Public Health Agency (PHA) about Supporting mums

PHA YouTube channel.

For those living within the Belfast Trust area click here

For those living within the Southern Trust area Click here

For those living within the Northern Trust click here

For those living within the Western Trust click here

Currently Breastfeeding mothers in Northern Ireland are protected by sex discrimination laws that prohibit anyone from treating a woman unfavourably because she is breastfeeding.

For new parents, taking a baby out in public for the first time is a big event. This can be made more difficult when a mother breastfeeds in public and finds opposition or criticism.

The “Breastfeeding Welcome Here” Scheme is an initiative which aims to accommodate and support families who wish to breastfeed while out and about.  A business will display the logo in their window so it’s very clear and welcoming to Breastfeeding families.

Click on the link below and scroll down to the interactive map. Put in your postcode and you will find a list of local businesses, café’s restaurants who have signed up to the scheme’

Breastfeeding welcome here scheme – parents | Breastfed Babies