Resources
Download a poster for HIFN here - put it up in your work coffee room
See separate page for e-learning and training
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The Australian resource for doctors, "LactaMap" is a very comprehensive
website covering a range of topics
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Covid-19 resources
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RCOG FAQs
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Information from Unicef UK Baby Friendly Initiative
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BAPM FAQs
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Bliss statement on parental access in the neonatal unit during the pandemic
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Journal articles and blogs for health professionals
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Free open access medical education blog "breastfeeding 101 for doctors"
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Review of breastfeeding in hospital in the first 2 weeks of life - what doctors need to know (NHS OpenAthens or RCPCH membership will allow access)
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Free open access medical education blog 'Cry Baby Cry' (and Part 2)
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Summary of citizen science research on the experiences of breastfeeding families with health professionals
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Wendy Jones' Breastfeeding and Medication blog
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Article on breastfeeding beyond infancy for General Practitioners, hosted by the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers
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Textbooks
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Free electronic textbook hosted by the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative
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Recent UK textbook for medical professionals, edited by Amy Brown and Wendy Jones
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General breastfeeding information
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Mothers can be pointed to the National Breastfeeding Helpline 0300 100 0212 (English/Welsh/Polish; 930am-930pm 7 days a week inc bank holiday); there is also a webchat option
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A set of Global Health Media videos on the basics of breastfeeding, available in 48 languages and aimed particularly at underserved communities in Africa and Asia
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The World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative UK keeps track of how the UK is doing to promote and facilitate breastfeeding
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Specific resources relating to families of colour
Although breastfeeding rates in the UK are actually higher in mothers from Black and Ethnic Minority groups than White mothers (in contrast to the USA), people from BAME groups still face racism and discrimination in the way they are treated by healthcare professionals, along with worse maternal and infant health outcomes. Breastfeeding support systems in the UK are often dominated by white women. These resources help explore some of these factors:
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A blog on how race and infant feeding interact in the UK from the NCT
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Some stories from UK people of colour who are breastfeeding
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The American organisation ROSE (Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere) hosts stories and you can download a large piece of research related to breastfeeding in African American communities
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The partner organisation ROBE (Reaching our Brothers Everywhere) reaches out to fathers of colour on how and why to support breastfeeding
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Black Women Do Breastfeed - "making the community of black breastfeeding women visible". This website particularly shared people's stories, although it hasn't been updated recently
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The Blackmere report and the Inquiry into Racial Injustice both explore the discrimination faced by women and families of colour in the UK maternity system
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Specific resources relating to LGBTQI families
HIFN tries to use additive terms as much as possible in the language of our website. Please let us know if you have any feedback on this.
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Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine protocol for LGBTQ+ families (number 33)
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A report from the LGBT Foundation on the experiences of transgender and non binary birthing parents within maternity services
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Research into the experiences of transgender parents is an emerging area. Here are some useful papers:
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Simple explanation of breastfeeding, chestfeeding and nursing for transgender and non-binary parents, from La Leche League International
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Jenna's breastfeeding journey - trans motherhood
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Podcast series 'Breastfeeding Outside the Box', presenting a variety of lactation experiences for LGBTQI families, and how to support and advise them
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More resources and articles are linked to within our specific webpage.
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Infant formula
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First Steps Nutrition Trust provides independent information on infant formula
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Specific medical conditions
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The GP Infant Feeding Network covers primary care issues
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The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine is a US-based organisation with protocols on many specific issues
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Prescribing
​NICE Guidance specifies that prescribers should consult specialist services rather than relying on the BNF
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UK Drugs in Lactation advisory service gives high quality lactation-specific information on each drug individually, and provides general topic question and answer sheets. Health professionals can contact them to ask specific questions
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LactMed is a searchable database of medications from the US National Library of Medicine
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The Breastfeeding Network fact sheets on common specific medications
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Allied Health Professionals
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RCN guidance on breastfeeding on children's wards and departments
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Medical Students
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A website designed by and for medical students on breastfeeding
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Posters and flyers promoting breastfeeding​​
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Dorset Healthcare posters (can personalise with own trust logo)
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Human Milk Campaign posters and leaflets
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Register to order free Public Health England Start4Life campaign materials and annual materials for Breastfeeding Celebration week (in June) and World Breastfeeding week (in August)
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The Association of Breastfeeding Mothers allow use of their #FeedOn campaign resources, which feature diverse real-world images of breastfeeding
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HIFN resources available for download
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See separate pages for downloadable posters related to medication in lactation and general health professional education
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Please join our Facebook group to access example teaching slide decks for different hospital settings
