Author Name:
Alison Baum

Biography:
Founder of Best Beginnings and the Breastfeeding Manifesto Coalition

Hopefully, you'll find all the information and advice you'll need by reading the articles written by breastfeeding experts that we've carefully brought together for you in the Information Zone of Express Yourself Mums.

You'll also find a few articles that mums have written to share with other mums. We've found from our own experience that we can learn so much by sharing success stories and problems overcome. So, if and when you get to the otherside of your difficulty you too can share your story by clicking to express yourself here:

However, sometimes you just need a highly qualified person to talk to.
So, below are the helpline numbers for the four main UK breastfeeding support organisations. By calling one of the numbers below you'll get to talk to a highly qualified breastfeeding councillor, and it is amazing how much help they'll be able to give you over the phone:

The National Childbirth Trust (8am-10pm): 0870 444 8708
La Leche League (Great Britain): 0845 120 2918
Breastfeeding Network: 0870 900 8787
ABM - Association of Breastfeeding Mothers: 0870 401 771

Sometimes however, it is not an expert that you need, just another mum to share and bounce ideas around with. There are wonderful breastfeeding Baby Cafes sprouting up around the country where breastfeeding mums can get together, chat, share ideas and talk through challenges. There are already over 50, and more are opening all the time. The Baby Cafe website will list your nearest group. They are even a great place to go before you've had your baby to hang-out with other breastfeeding mums in a relaxing envirnoment over a nice hot cupper. Also, you'll find that Breastfeding councillors, peer support mums and healthvistors are often there on hand to talk to.

If you are keen to find support from other mums online, then there is a superb chat room set up by Annalisa Barbieri called I Want My Mum, if you post queries in the breastfeeding chat room, you'll get other mothers piping up with suggestions and ideas.

But, if you have a real challenge and things arn't getting better then do speak to a trained breastfeeding councillor they are here to help you. It is amazing what they can help you with over the phone, and if they can't solve your problem on the phone they will be able to refer you to someone who can help.

You could also talk to your midwife, healthvisitor or doctor. Many are totally up-to-date with the latest reserach and advice, but you might not always be so lucky. So, if your local medical professional is giving you advice that just doesn't sit with your mothering instinct, for example, telling you to "top-up" because "you've not got enough milk" even though your baby is alert, happy and healthy with wet nappies and plenty of poos.....do seek other advice from a trained breastfeeding councillor or lactation consultant.

Also, if you are being told to stop breastfeeding because of medication you are on/need to be on, again you can always talk this through with a trained breastfeeding councillor or look at the Breastfeeding Network website.

And, if you need to speak to someone, do call one of the helplines above.

Over the years we've spoken to many mums who had challenges to begin with, but were able to tap into the right support and overcame them, they've gone on to enjoy fulfilling breastfeeding relationships with their babies....so hang-on in there.