"Outstanding support from the Community Feeding Team"

Our daughter was born just before Christmas and we had a tricky start to our feeding journey. We were readmitted shortly after our initial discharge due to our daughter losing too much weight and commenced a triple feeding schedule.

We received good support in the hospital from the staff to help establish breastfeeding and to learn the triple feeding routine. Having read lots about feeding during pregnancy I had thought I had a rough idea what I was doing, however I soon realised it's a lot more complex and every baby is unique.

The support we received in the hospital was great, however difficulties continued with weight gain after discharge and we were transferred to the care of the community feeding team and specifically Gail.

The support we received from Gail was outstanding and we wouldn't have managed to establish exclusive, responsive breastfeeding without her support. We are incredibly grateful to have been able to receive this support at home as travelling with a small baby as new parents was tricky and this was exacerbated by the need to be on the triple feeding schedule, so having our appointments at home allowed us to adhere to this.

Gail was incredibly knowledgeable and had a kind and supportive approach whilst also acknowledging that the feeding plan needed to be practical and realistic for our family. I was determined to do what I could to maximise the breast milk I gave my daughter. Gail persevered with us to reduce formula top ups, increase expressed milk top ups and eventually to establish exclusive breastfeeding.

I was not confident we'd reach this goal but Gail's calm, confident and responsive support enabled us to do this and I hope my daughter will reap the benefits of this for many years to come. The community feeding team is a fantastic resource and we are so grateful to have been able to access this service.