Tuesday, 25 June 2013

Breastfeeding Support in Kent

I have found breastfeeding support groups invaluable to my breastfeeding success.  Studies have also shown that support from peer counselors/supporters is the most statistically significant intervention in increasing the success of breastfeeding.  I have linked to the abstract on one such study, there are others, but this one took place while I worked for the WIC program which was used for this study.  While there I set up the Anne Arundel County Peer Support Program which when I left employed (paid) 7 peer counselors (2 of which were full time employees) and a full time IBCLC Lactation Consultant as a supervisor and high risk referral source.  Our breastfeeding initiation rates rose from 46% to 69% after the Program was started with exclusive breastfeeding rates doubling from 6% to 12%.

Since moving back to the UK I have found my local breastfeeding support groups and I trained as a Peer Supporter in September 2011.  This is my start to compiling a list of the support groups in the area which I hope grows to become a resource for anyone looking for support in Kent.  I have lots of gaps to fill in, so if you see a gap you can help me fill please add details to the comments below and I shall include them in the listing.



Kent Breastfeeding Support Groups

Ashford
Cranbrook
Cranbrook Children's Centre
Carriers Road, Cranbrook TN17 3JZ
01580 713296
Thursday 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Led by a breastfeeding specialist

Canterbury
Dartford
The Brent Children’s Centre
Overy Street, Dartford DA1 1UP
01322 296140
Monday 1:00pm – 2:30pm

Dartford West Health Centre
Tower Road, Dartford DA1 2HA
01322
Tuesday9:30am – 11:30am

Knockhall Children’s Centre
Abbey Road, Greenhithe DA9 9HD
01322 624290
Tuesday 9:30am – 11:30am

Swanscombe Children’s Centre
Manor Community Primary School, Keary Road DA10 0BU
01322 624230
Tuesday 9:30am – 11:30am
Wednesday 1:00pm – 3:00pm

Dartford East Health Centre
Pilgrims Way, Dartford DA1 1QY
01322 622594
Wednesday 9:30am – 11:30am

Greenlands at Darenth Children’s Centre
Green Street Green Road, Darenth DA2 ***
***** ******
Tuesday 1:00pm – 3:00pm

Oakfield Children’s Centre
Oakfield Lane, Dartford DA1 2SW
01322 421160
Thursday 9:15am – 11:15am

Temple Hill Children’s Centre
St Edmunds Living Well, Dartford DA1 5ND
01322 224536
Wednesday 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Deal & Sandwich
Dover
Gravesham (07527 921213)
Little Gems
High Street, Northfleet DA11 9HB
Monday 1:30pm – 3:00pm

New Beginnings
Cornwall Avenue DA12 5HS
Tuesday 1:30pm – 3:00pm

Little Pebbles
Ordnance Road DA12 2RL
Wednesday 1:00pm – 2:30pm

Bright Futures
Packham Road DA11 7JF
11:00am – 2:00pm

Riverside
Dickens Road DA12 2JY
12:00pm – 2:00pm
Maidstone
Salvation Army
74-80 Union Street, Maidstone ME14 1EE
01622 681808
Wednesday 12:30pm - 2:00pm
Antenatal Breastfeeding Session provided on the 1st Wednesday of the Month 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Free parking available next to the Salvation Army building
Led by a breastfeeding specialist


Malling

Medway (www.abettermedway.co.uk/breastfeeding 07908 817569/01634 331054)
Medway Maritime Hospital
Antenatal Clinic, Level 2 Green Zone, Gillingham ME7 5NY
Monday 9:30am – 12:00pm
Felicia 07717 302972 Wendy 07908 815709

Milk & Biscuits
Gun Lane Children’s Centre, Strood ME2 4UF
Monday 10:00am – 12:00pm
Peer Supporter 07507 448648

Little Ones Group
Landswood Children’s Centre, Lewe ME5 8NN
1st Monday of the Month 1:30pm – 3:00pm

Brompton Bumps 2 Boobs
Brompton Children’s Centre, Gillingham ME7 5DQ
Tuesday 9:00am – 11:30am
07833 714319

La Leche League Rochester
St Lukes Church Centre
2nd & 4th Tuesday 10:00am – 12:00pm
111.rochester.publicity@googlemail.com

La Leche League Rainham
Riverside Children’s Centre, St Edmunds Way, Rainham ME8 8ET
1st & 3rd Tuesday 10:00am – 12:00pm
lll.meetings.in.rainham@gmail.com

Child Health Clinic
Delce Children’s Centre, Fleet Road, Rochester ME1 2QA
Tuesday 9:30am – 11:30am

Toddler Biz
Saxon Way Children’s Centre, Ingram Road, Gillingham ME7 1SJ
Tuesday 10:00am – 11:30am

Tums 2 Mums
Hand in Hand Children’s Centre, Twydall Lane ME8 6JS
Wednesday 9:30am – 11:30am
07507 448662

Mother Love
Chattenden Community Centre
Wednesday 9:30am – 11:30am
07507 451341

Little Acorns Breastfeeding
St Mary’s Island Community Centre
Thursday 10:00am – 12:00am (term-time only)
07507 459425

Bosom Buddies
Kingfisher Children’s Centre, Princes Park, Kingfisher Drive, Chatham ME5 7NX
Thursday 1:00pm – 2:45pm
07507 456972

Breastfeeding Drop-in
Sunlight Centre, Gillingham
Thursday 1:00pm – 3:00pm
07507 458024

Breastfeeding Drop-in
Bligh Children’s Centre, Bligh Way, Strood ME2 2XJ
Thursday 1:00pm – 2:30pm
07507 459425

Breastfeeding Drop-in
Rochester Community Hub
Friday 11:00am – 12:00pm
07507 448749

Feeding Friends
Deanwood Children’s Centre, Longcath’s Road ME8 9TX
Friday 1:00pm – 2:30pm
07507 457303

Breast Friends
Allsaints Children’s Centre, Magpie Hall Road, Chatham ME4 5AZ
Friday 1:00pm – 2:30pm
07507 458622

Baby Group
Saxon Way Children’s Centre, Ingram Road, Gillingham ME7 1SJ

 Sevenoaks
Spring House Children's Centre
Nr Sevenoaks Hospital, Hospital Road, Sevenoaks TN13 3TP
01732 465539
Thursday 9:30am - 11:30am
Parking costs £1.50 for 2 hours, free parking can be found on streets nearby for 1 hour maximum
Led by a breastfeeding specialist


Swanley Children's Centre
Northview, Swanley BR8 7BT
01322 668132
Thursday 12:30pm - 2:30pm
Led by a breastfeeding specialist

Shepway
Swale
Thanet
Tonbridge
Tonbridge Baptist Church
Darenth Avenue, Tonbridge TN10 3HZ
01732 352824
Tuesday 10:00am - 12:00pm
Led by a breastfeeding specialist

Tunbridge Wells
The Little Forest Children's Centre
Friars Way, Tunbridge Wells TN2 3UA
01892 532319
Tuesday 9:30am - 12:00pm
Led by a breastfeeding specialist


Attended by Breast Buddies - 

Little Forest Children's Centre
Friars Way, Tunbridge Wells TN2 3UA
Wednesday 9:00am - 11:00am

Harmony Children's Centre
High Street, Rusthall, Tunbridge Wells TN4 8RZ
01892 520582
Support provided on request only

Greenfields Children's Centre
Rutland Way, Shepway, Maidstone ME15 8DR
01622 750025
Friday 10:45am - 11:45am

The Ark Children's Centre
Broadwater Lane, Tunbridge Wells TN2 5RP
01892 512680
Tuesday 1:00pm - 3:00pm

The Meadow's Children's Centre
Furfield Close (off Wallis Avenue), Park Wood, Maidstone ME15 9JR
01622 699900
Thursday 9:30am - 11:30am

Woodlands Children's Centre
Chapman Way, East Malling ME19 6SD
01732 874086
Monday 9:30am - 12:00pm
Free on-street parking, children's centre on left side of building at the back

Snodland Children's Centre
Rocfort Road, Snodland ME6 5NQ
01634 245476
Tuesday 9:30am - 12:00pm

East Borough Children's Centre
Vinters Road, Maidstone ME14 5DX
01622 757203
Thursday 1:30pm - 3:00pm

Paddock Wood Children's Centre
The Wesley Centre, Commercial Road, Paddock Wood TN12 6DF
01580 713296
Thursday 10:30am - 12:00pm

Eden Cafe
85 Bank Street, Maidstone ME14 1SD
1st Tuesday of every month at 2:00pm

Westerham Children's Centre
Westerham Hall, Quebec Avenue, Westerham TN10 1BJ
01959 569219
1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month 10:00am - 12:00pm
Limited free on-street parking available and paid parking also

Edenbridge Children's Centre
High Street, Edenbridge TN8 5AB
01732 864045
Friday 10:00am - 12:00pm



This post is part of the Keep Britain Breastfeeding Scavenger Hunt which is running from June 23-29, 2013 during National Breastfeeding Awareness Week.  Over 40 bloggers and 25 companies are taking part.  Bloggers will be writing about their breastfeeding experiences all week and there will be lots and lots of prizes up for grabs.  Each time you read a post you will have the chance to earn points by entering the rafflecopter attached to the post.  The more posts you read, the more points you gain.  At 50 points you become eligible to be entered for the chance to win the main prize with over £1000 worth of breastfeeding goodies.  Please enter using the rafflecopter below, and check out these other fabulous bloggers to read more about breastfeeding and to find more rafflecopters to enter.











Rayne Beau Boos make beautiful crochet items for babies and kids, including the fabulous Boobie Beanie and stuffed boobie that have been promised to the winner of the Keep Britain Breastfeeding Scavenger Hunt 2013.

Here is the rafflecopter

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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10 comments:

  1. Unknown25 June 2013 at 11:15

    My best friend!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Unknown25 June 2013 at 12:39

    My breastfeeding supporter/s have to be the ladies on babycentreUK. Without their help, I would definitely have been formula feeding almost from birth as my baby wouldn't latch. 14 weeks of pumping later, and he surprised us all.
    He has now been breastfeeding for almost a year (he's 15 months) with no sign of stopping soon (how it should be).
    I am now training to be a bfps so I can help others. Yay!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Alex willetts25 June 2013 at 14:25

    Has to be my husband, for a bloke he is quite good at it ;) x

    ReplyDelete
  4. Unknown25 June 2013 at 14:45

    my biggest supporter is my OH who saw me through the early nights with baby no 1 when we struggled with latch issues, and ended up referred back to the hospital for a feeding plan which involved a very difficult schedule of expressing and topping up. he also understands how important breastfeeding is for both mine and our childrens health.
    But I also have a community of women friends who have breastfed/are breastfeeding and its their support that gets me through the ups and downs.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Unknown26 June 2013 at 03:36

    My boyfriend and the pink ladies are my biggest supporters

    ReplyDelete
  6. Laura Honeybee26 June 2013 at 06:19

    My biggest supporter is my husband. He's a real breastfeeding advocate!

    ReplyDelete
  7. sc298726 June 2013 at 09:37

    A lactation consultant who diagnosed my daughter's tongue tie.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Unknown26 June 2013 at 14:06

    The breastfeeding support councilor at the birthing centre was my best support as my ex-husband left me. Best advice would have to be relax, let you baby tell you when they need feeding and how much - you will provide enough :-)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Robyn Clarke1 July 2013 at 05:46

    My husband, he was always there with an endless supply of drinks and snacks

    ReplyDelete
  10. Unknown30 October 2013 at 05:00

    Hi Karen, would be grateful if you could add our group to your list, Deal Breastfeeding Support Group, St Georges Church, St Georges Road, Deal CT14 6BA Mondays 1.30-3.30 www.dealbreastfeedingsupportgroup.co.uk thank you :-)

    ReplyDelete

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