On 13th November 2020, The Hospital Infant Feeding Network, the GP Infant Feeding Network and Breastfeeding for Doctors published the following letter to the Health Secretaries of the four UK nations on the separation of mothers and children in hospitals, which was signed by 21 organisations and over 4000 health professionals and parents (as of 05/12/2020). If you would like to sign the letter please click here.

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Dear Matt Hancock, Vaughan Gething, Jeane Freeman, Robin Swann and Stephen Donnelly, 

 

The Covid-19 pandemic has had huge impacts on families and children, with particular impact during pregnancy and new parenthood [1,2], as emphasised by the #ButNotMaternity campaign. We welcome the recent commitment by the Government to provide rapid Covid-19 testing to maternity and paediatric patients as a priority.

 

However, as restrictions tighten again, increasing numbers of mothers are still being separated from their babies where one or both are hospitalised, including cases where separation actively increases the risks of severe or prolonged illness because of its impact on lactation.

 

Bliss - the charity for families with babies cared for in neonatal units - has highlighted the critical importance of parental access in hospital settings, reinforcing that parents are not visitors [3]. We amplify this call, and also emphasise that when the baby is breastfed, this constitutes not only essential nutrition but also protects infant development in both the short- and long-term [4]. Furthermore, separation due to hospitalisation increases the risk of maternal complications caused by the abrupt cessation of breastfeeding, such as mastitis [5], and decreases the likelihood of breastfeeding being established.

 

We call upon all hospitals caring for families to review their practices urgently, aiming:

 

• To keep mothers and children together as much as possible, acknowledging that neither is a ‘visitor’ when the other is hospitalised

• To work in accordance with evidence-based guidelines already published [6,7,8]

• To ensure provision of breast pumps and feeding support if separation is necessary

• To value and prioritise the breastfeeding relationship when a breastfeeding mother or child are hospitalised

• To support parents and children with compassion 

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Moreover, we call for the urgent convening of a working group to draw up national policies that specifically address the needs of families during pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding to ensure hospital care minimises any negative impact on mental health, bonding and infant feeding in these challenging times. The likelihood of long-term adjustments due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic means it is not acceptable for ad hoc arrangements to be made leading to inequity across hospital settings and across the country. There is an urgent need for the implementation of clear and universal guidelines and standards to protect the lives and long-term health of UK families.[9]

 

References:

1. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mcn.13088

2. https://www.bestbeginnings.org.uk/news/the-babies-in-lockdown-report

3. https://www.bliss.org.uk/health-professionals/information-and-resources/parental-access-covid19

4. Victora C, Bahl R, Barros A, França G, Horton S, Krasevec J et al. Breastfeeding in the 21st century: epidemiology, mechanisms, and lifelong effect. Lancet. 2016;387(10017):475-490.

5. https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/mastitis-breast-abscess/

6. https://www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/guidelines/coronavirus-pregnancy/

7. https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/resources/bapm-covid-19-frequently-asked-questions-within-neonatal-services

8. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/mcn.13033 

9. https://ukbreastfeedingtrends.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/wbti-uk-report-2016-part-1-14-2-17.pdf

 

Note:

We understand that not all lactating people identify as mothers. Understanding the impact of lactation on hospital admission for an adult or a child is needed for all, regardless of gender identity

 

Signed by

 

Dr Vicky Thomas and Dr Ilana Levene, paediatricians, co-chairs Hospital Infant Feeding Network

Dr Natalie Shenker, UKRI Future Leaders Fellow, Imperial College London; Cofounder and Director, Human Milk Foundation

Dr Louise Santhanam, GP, GP Infant Feeding Network

Prof Mary Fewtrell, Professor of Paediatric Nutrition, Institute of Child Health

Dr Sarah Little, GP

Dr Rachel Cook, GP trainee

Dr Elizabeth Thomas, consultant in anaesthesia and intensive care medicine, Stockport NHS Foundation Trust

Jessica Phillips, consultant surgeon

Diana Slim, respiratory registrar

Jenny O’Neill, SHO, Northumbria Trust

Jennifer Hobbs, junior doctor, paediatric rehabilitation

Marie Collier, doctor, NHS

Dr Adrianna Tseretopoulos, GP

Dr Rebecca Jones, GP, London

Katie Jackson, GP

Sophie Jones, Palliative Care registrar West Midlands Deanery

Sophie Jane Connor, ST3 radiology, NHS

Claire Granger, neonatologist

Ruth Capon, Obs and Gynae Doctor, North East

Dr Jessica Dickson, Paediatric SpR

Catrina Mcdowall, GP NHS Lanarkshire

Dr Charlotte Leahy, NHS Doctor

Gemma Partridge, Consultant Obstetrician, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust

Hannah Law, Paediatric Registrar, Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust

Dr Georgina Forbes, Doctor, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board

Katy Martinek, GP, Cumbria

Sally Hallam, surgical SPR

Dr Joanna Myer, Emergency Medicine registrar doctor

Annemarie Brunswicker, ST6 Cardiothoracic Surgery

Dr Lorriane McFarlane, GP NHS Fife

Kirstie Gale, Doctor

Dr Justice Reilly, Specialty Breast Doctor, West of Scotland Breast Screening

Aimee Rowe, Hospital Doctor

Frances Elliott, Paediatric Registrar

Dr Aimee Barlow, Staff Grade Doctor

Nicole Norman, IMT 1 Cardiology, Torbay and South Devon NHS Trust

Charlotte Yates, GP SCGP

Leanne Jackson, GP

Dr Emily Hesketh, doctor (medical SHO), QEH King’s Lynn, and Vice Chair of Breastfeeding Mum Meets Norfolk

Emily Rowe, GP

Rebecca West, Paediatric Doctor

Suzanne McAllister, Neonatal doctor

Megan Ashwood, GPST2 Cumbria

Dr Carys Jones, GP

Emily Poyser, Mother and doctor

Jennifer Rodgers, FY2

Jasmina Custovic, GP

Dr Eleanor Barnet-Lamb, GP

Dr Rebecca Clements, Paediatric Registrar, Mersey Deanery

Lai Ling Tan, Consultant, NHS

Habiba Ali, Paediatrician

Dr Naomi Dow, GP – Inverurie Medical Group

Nadia Masood, Consultant Anaesthetist, NHS Lothian

Dr Nicola Williams, GP

Samantha Louise Forster, Obstetrics and gynaecology registrar

Eleanor Argyle, GP registrar doctor, Swindon

Natalie Dawson, GP

Josephine Glanville, GPST2 Doctor, West Hertfordshire NHS Trust

Dr Susie Minson, Consultant Paediatrician

Sophie Gascoigne-Cohen, Specialty Doctor, Central North West London NHS Foundation Trust

Miss Abigail Jonas FRCOphth, ophthalmology ST6, University Hospital Southampton

Eva Mahler, GP, NHS Lothian

Caroline Warden, Hospital doctor

Alexandra McGuirk, doctor

Dr Annabelle Mary Kerr, GP partner, Stonehaven Medical Group

Jo Shephard, Obstetrics and gynaecology ST4

Abigail Gallaghrt, GP

Dr Maria Cristina Loader, SpR Infectious Diseases/General Internal Medicine

Clare Jones, GP

Dr Madeleine Miller, GP

Clare Bird, Anaesthetist, Mid and South Essex Hospitals Trust

Jennifer Turner, Medical SpR, Western Sussex Hospitals Trust

Susannah Pye, PICU Registrar, St Mary’s Hospital

Jessica MacWilliam, Paediatric ST7

Annie Houldey, GP

Ella Grummitt, GPST3

Dr Clare Burlinson, Anaesthetic consultant

Amy Maguire, Paediatric registrar

Laura Walters, GP, Rame Group Practice

Katie Rose, ST6 Paediatrics

Esther Knight, FY2

Felicity Rowley, on maternity leave

Kim Jennett, Anaesthetic Consultant

Duana Cook, ST6 Paediatrics. St Peter’s Hospital, Chertsey

Natasha Asselin-Miller, ST7 O&G Cambridge University Hospitals

Louise Clark, Consultant Physician, NHS Lanarkshire

Cathryn Bloomfield, Palliative medicine Registrar

Hannah Glover, gastroenterology consultant

Saira Aslam, GP

Malenka Bissell, Clinical lecturer University of Leeds

Dr Hana Iqbal, GP

Dr Emily Jones, General Practitioner

Stephanie Johnso, Doctor

Dr Abigail Inglis, GP

Deborah Kirkham, Consultant in Genitourinary and HIV Medicine

Emily Calder, Paediatrician, NHS

Dr Joanna Sedano, Specialty registrar

Dr Susannha Wincell, Doctor/mother to baby born in lockdown

Rachel Davis, Doctor

Louisa Kent, Neurology doctor in training

Ceri Wiltshire, Consultant Anaesthetist

Chloe Rowan Guy, GPST3 (and Mummy)

Dominika Murgasova, Paediatric senior registrar (ST8)

Michelle Lannon, Consultant in the NHS

Dr Kristy Lavall, GP

Sophie Ferguson, Doctor

Eilbhe Whelan, Obstetrics and Gynaecology speciality registrar

Kate Antonia Mills, consultant oncologist, Sykehuset Innlandet

Mhairi Roscoe, FY2 on maternity leave

Emily Hosker, Doctor

Kathryn Oprych, Clinical fellow in Genomics, Great Ormond Street Hospital

Dr Charlotte Daniels, GPST3

Sakinah Said Ali, ST3 Hull Royal Hospital Trust

Lucy Brennan, GP

Jessica Ford, Obstetrics and Gynaecology registrar, East Lancs Teaching Hospitals

Katie Austin, GP

Jennifer Mc Dicken, Consultant Geriatrician, NHS Lanarkshire

Dr Helen Sarah Bedford, GP, Driffield Medical Centre

Katherine Brooks, Anaesthetist

Dr Gemma Keelty, Paediatric Consultant

Abigail Pascoe, Consultant Clinical Oncologist and breastfeeding mother

Dr Victoria Kate Matharu, GP

Dawn Washington, Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist

Dr Clair Grainger, Doctor at Health Bridge Ltd

Amy Kang, GP Berryfields Medical Centre, Aylesbury

Nicola Pawley, Consultant Intensivist/Anaesthetist and mother to a newborn born in lockdown

Dr Katherine Lynch, Medical Registrar, Darent Valley Hospital

Amy Atkin, GPST3

Anne-Marie Woodward, GP

Samantha Robinson, GP

Janine Simpson, ST6 CSRH, NHS GGC

Kirsty Bisset, Parent, junior doctor

Amisha Mistry, Locum consultant paediatrician, Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust

Fiona Henry, GP

Melissa Everett, GP 

Gabriella Capaldo, GP

Dr Samantha Scott, GP

Charlotte Durand, Paediatric Emergency Medicine Consultant, Alder Hey

Katharine Wheelband, GP

Dr T Penfold, GP

Claire Polley, GP, Heswall and Pensby Group Practice

Lucy Archer, Paediatric SHO and mother

Liz Gould, GP

Lucy Hook, Specialty Registrar, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Dr Karen Pearson, Anaesthetic Consultant, NHS Tayside

Joanna Lumb, Consultant Microbiologist, Newcastle Hospitals

Katherime Arndtz, Mother and doctor

Kirsty Harris, Doctor

Alexandra Lee, General Practitioner

Dr Eleanor Harrison, Histopathology Registrar

Anne-Marie Guy, Paaediatric Consultant

Amy Davies, GPST3

Dr Naomi Eastwood, Senior Paediatric Specialty Trainee (ST7) neonatology

Jennifer Annis, GPST2

Lucia Macken, Doctor

Philippa Harris, Elderly Care Speciality Doctor

Charlotte Fowles, Doctor, NHS

Samuel Harris, GP

Dr Holly Puckett, GP registrar, North Devon NHS Trust

Joanna Lobaz, GP

Jodie Hussain, Paediatric Registrar

Dr Jia Leow, ST7 Paediatrics

Julia Soulsby, GP

Lucy McDonnell, GP

Dr Sarah McCallum, GP and breastfeeding counsellor

Beibei Du-Harpur, Dermatology ST5, Guys and St Thomas’ Hospital

Helen Brambley, Anaesthetist, Oxford University Hospitals

Dr Sarah Martin, General Practitioner

Gillian Paterson, Consultant Psychiatrist

Rachel Tait, GP

Megan Hartley, Paediatric Registrar, James Cook Hospital Middlesbrough

Danielle Trigg, Junior Doctor, Leeds Teaching Hospital

Ellen Dean, GP

Katherine Gillard, General Practitioner

Audyey Dillon, Consultant Hepatologist

Julie Campbell, Consultant Anaesthetist

Farzana Ahmed, Psychiatrist

Dr Andrea Whitehead, GP (NHS) and mother

Jo McCarthy, Consultant in Public Health

Zareena Amiruddin, A&E trust doctor, Northumbria Healthcare

Khadija Jamal, GP trainee ST1, Health Education Northwest

Dr Katherine Walesby, Clinical Research Fellow University of Edinburgh

Lauren Goundry, Registrar

Katie Marwick, Psychiatry Higher Trainee

Yvonne Abimbola, GP

Jennifer Ashtom, GPST1 Doctor, Pennine Acute Trust

Sally Carswell, GP (and breastfeeding mother of baby born during lockdown)

Dr Orla Walsh, Consultant Paediatrician

Lucy Simmons, Urology Registrar

Jemma Collins, Consultant Dermatologist, Aneurin Bevan UHB

Jillian Ann Samarasekara, Speciality Doctor, Community Child Health, NHS Lothian

Joanna Ish-Horowitz, GP registrar

Anna Green, GP

Dr Vidhya Nagaratnam, Consultant Anaesthetist, Imperial Healthcare NHS Trust 

Katie Westwood, PHNT

Aimee Morgan, GP

Camilla Larsen, CST2, HENE

Charlotte Traynor, GP

Eimi Howse, GP registrar, NHS

Samantha Walker, GP

Anna Coulter, GP registrar

Marieke Thompson, Specialist Registrar, Cambridge

Dr Chloe Eulberg, Paediatrics Trainee ST1

Geetanjali Dutta, GP ST2 Doctor, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

Natalia Albu, GP

Karen McLaughlin, GP

Sarah Palfreyman, Anaesthetist, NHS

Nicola Smith, GP, NHS

Victoria Key, GP

Fiona Thorburn, Infectious Disease Registrar

Rina Patel, Palliative Medicine Consultant 

Kate Thomas, Macmillan GP, CHCP Hull

Carla Harris, GPST3 Northwestern Deanery

Dr Antonia Venyo, salaried GP

Catriona Reid, GP

Rachael Huggins, Doctor

Claire Gilbert, Public Health Registrar, Yorkshire

Dr Rebecca Dawn Steel, General Practitioner

Dr Katie Dichard-Head, Psychiatry Trainee, Wessex

Hannah Welstead, Consultant Psychiatrist in psychotherapy

Bejal Devalia, ST8 paediatric registrar, Royal London Hospital

Sophia Palmer-Haynes, GPST3

Amy Phillips, GP

Aoibhin McGarrity, GP

Lauren Soltvedt, GP

Gabriela Socol, GP trainee/HSE

Elizabeth Charlestown, Junior doctor

Alice Whiteley-Jones, General Practitioner

Dr Sarah Moorhouse, Paediatric Trainee, Northern Deanery

Dr Claire Burnell-Hornby, GP

Elizabeth Morris, Doctor

Dr Sally Owen, GP, Hightown Surgery

Dr Katrina Elizabeth Harborne, Radiology Resgistrar

Claire Slade, GP

Jessica Cook, ST3 geriatrics – Royal Lancaster Infirmary

Nikki Higgins, Consultant Anaesthetist

Aishwarya Lant, ST4 Paediatric Registrar

Sarah Keith, GP

Dr Sofia Reynolds, Admin at Breastfeeding for Doctors

Helen French, Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Registrar, Scotland Deanery

Robyn Powell, Founder of BFD and Emergency Medicine in the Northwest

Jill Harrison, Consultant Neonatologist, Liverpool Women’s Hospital

Dr Hannah Marshall, Paediatric Registrar

Dr Shahela Islam, ST5 CAMHS Higher Trainee

Rachel Babic, Anaesthetist

Ceri Jones, General Practitioner

Dr Samantha Chambers BSc MBChB (Honours) MRCS (Ed) DRCOG, GP ST2 Warwick Hospital

Rebecca Dunn, Gastro SpR, University Hospital of North Tees

Dr Bethan Warwick, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Registrar, Gloucester Royal Hospital

Irene Paphiti Demetriou, Paediatrician and IBCLC

Yumnah Ras, GP trainee

Hannah Willis, GPST3

Rosemary Marsh, GP registrar, member of GPIFN

Rebecca Chambers, General Practitioner

Dr Chrishanthy Grace Jayarajah, Consultant Perinatal Psychiatrist, CNWL, NHS Foundation Health Trust

Jenna Chambers, GP registrar

Rachel French, ST7 General Surgery

Catherine Woodward, GP trainee

Dr Philip Smith, Consultant Paediatrician

Helen Michael, Consultant Paediatric Cardiologist, Leeds General Infirmary

Elizabeth Dove-Jay, Psychiatry Trainee

Jenny Barker, Public Health Registra, Wessex

Dr Cerian Davies, General Practice Registrar

Rose Dewinton, GP

Helen Lloyd, GP

Rebecca Evans-Jones, Consultant Obstetrician, Gloucestershire Hospitals NHSFT

Faye Stanage, Doctor, SWLSTG Mental Health Trust

Melissa Hargreaves, CT3 Psychiatry Doctor

Dr Marese Murphy, GP

Michelle Horridge, Public Health Registrar

Dr Gemma Matthewman, GP, West Midlands

Dr Elizabeth Bell, GP

Vicky Young, GP, Glasgow

Thomas Dunne, NHS Doctor

Sarah Brennan, GP and NUI Galway, Ireland

Erin Vermaak, Consultant Rheumatologist

Annabelle Liew, Paediatric Registrar

Helen Hare, Junior Doctor, NHS Lothian

Dr Katherine Murnal, GP

Dr Nora Murray-Cavanagh, GP and founding member of Lothian Breastfeeding Partnership

Gemma Peachey, ST5 South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Cristina Ikonomu, ophthalmic surgeon

Hannah Roberts, GP trainee, currently on mat leave

Satwant Kaut, ST3 trainee, Walsall Manor Hospital

Rachel Wright, medical student and breastfeeding mother

Dr Tony Waterston, paediatrician

Tania Hebert, GPST3, Coventry and Warwickshire

Kirsten Simons, GP registrar

Danielle Baty, GP

Ben Shillitoe, Paediatric Registrar

Emily Titherington, Paediatrician NHS

Louise Hills, Core medical doctor

Amanda sinai, Doctor

Dr Ellen Stockley, GP, Warwick

Fiona Greenslade, GP Registrar

Lorna Youngson, GP

Lauren lock, Doctor, Poole hospital

Sanaa Ismail, GP

Dr Wei Cope, Doctor, Cambridge University Hospitals.

Alison Burridge, GPST1

Samantha Forster, O+G registrar, HENE

Dr Ruth Stanley, Consultant Paediatrician, The Great North Children’s Hospital

Emma Herbert, Doctor, Royal Stoke University Hospital

Emma Lim, Paediatrician Great North Children’s Hospital

Dr Rhian Thomas, General Practitioner

Dr Amy Garrett, GP and mum

Dr Victoria Glover, GP

Jemma Cleminson, Paediatric Registrar, Great North Children’s Hospital

Dr Donna Bell, Consultant physician

Dr Poppy Flanagan, Doctor

Emily Abraham, General Practitioner

Anna McDonald, Medical student, St George's University of London

Dr Joy Abbott, Consultant Paediatric Anaesthetist

Nora Imolya, Specialty Doctor

Dr Leesa Parkinson, Parent; Consultant in Paediatric and Adult Emergency Medicine

Puja Nanda, GP

Dr Claire Tilley, GP

Helen Chitty, Consultant Neonatologist

Lorna Davidson, GP

Dr Sandra McDermott, Associate Specialist SRH WHSCT

Sian Copley, Paediatric Registrar

Helen Flint, GP

Dr Adele Cowper, Consultant in Paediatric Emergency Medicine

Rachel Neal, Paediatric ST2

Anne Lawson, Paediatric Surgeon

Dr Rebecca Dawn Steele, General Practitioner

Miriam Saey al-Rifai, Doctor

Kirrun Shafaat, GP

Dr Vanessa Watts, GP

Michelle Horridge, Public health registrar, Barnsley council

Dr Lorna Goldring, GP

Jenny Harrison, Consultant Physician

Helen Moore, Neonatal Consultant

Dr Helen Clemence, GP, Wells Health Centre

Laura Cleaton, GP

Stephanie Ooi, GP - MyHealthcare Clinic

Heather McFarland, GP, NHS

Heather Thomas, ST5 Paediatrics Liverpool Women's Hospital

Katherine Virk, GP

Iram Zaman, Consultant child and adolescent Psychiatrist

Saleha Patel, Junior Doctor at LHT

Rowena Yates, Consultant Community Paediatrician, Derbyshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Anne Lamena, Gynaecologist in training

Dr Penny Young, Consultant Paediatrician

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Alison Thewliss, MP and Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Infant Feeding and Inequality

Shereen Fisher, Chief Executive, The Breastfeeding Network

Nina White, Programme Manager, The Breastfeeding Network

Ayala Ochert, co-chair, Better Breastfeeding

Zara Bergman, member Director, Breastfeeding Network

Isabel Jordan RGN, IBCLC, Staff Nurse UHL

Professor Amy Brown, Center for Lactation, Infant Feeding and Translation, Swansea University

Eva Natali, Breastfeeding counsellor

Ruth Dennison, Breaking Breastfeeding Barriers

Kathryn Stagg, Breastfeeding Twins & Triplets UK

Alison McFadden, Professor of Mother and Infant Public Health, University of Dundee

Wendy Jones, Grandmother and Pharmacist

Helen Ball, Professory Durham University

Verity-Rose Webb, Breastfeeding counsellor

Hannah Ashford, Managing Director – Early Nourishment CIC

Louise Wylie, Midwife

Zoe Chadderton, Breastfeeding coordinator

Sally Dawes, Staff Nurse on neonatal unit

Victoria Clubley-Moore, LLL leader, La Leche League GB

Claire Parr, Public Health Midwife, Western Sussex NHS Hospitals Foundation Trust

Rachel Garman, Careers Officer

Zoe Stewart, Mother

Helen Lloyd, Chair La Leche League GB

Sarah Robinson, Doula UK doula

Georgia Charalmbous

Vasiliki Hadjinicolaou, Teacher

Christina Ttakka, Nurse 

Eleanna Kyriacou

Andri Thrasyvoulou, Mother

Stamatia Kondyli, Lawyer

Clare Whitehead, Infant Feeding Lead, Wirral Community NHS Health and Care Foundation Trust

Maria Victoria Estay

Georgia Mattheou, Lawyer

Artemis Nicolaou, Officer

Kirsty Kitchen, Birth Companions

Arielle Ball, Breastfeed Scotland/IBCLC

Raquib Ibrahim, Research and Development Officer at Mellow Parenting

Ms Nuria Macanas Comas, Doula breastfeeding support

Amanda Smith, Neonatal Infant Feeding Deputy Sister, University Hospitals of Leicester

Phyll Buchanan, BfN supporter

Professor Alison McFadden, Professor of Mother and Infant Public Health, University of Dundee

Christina Hadjithoma, Mother/Educator

Niki Chartosia, Academic

Elizabeth Stacey, Breastfeeding Lead Advisor, Dorset Healthcare

Ξενια Ξενοφώντος Αστυνομία Κύπρου 

Rachel O’Leary, Chair, Cambridge Breastfeeding Alliance

Melanie Woodward, Breastfeeding peer supporter

Yianna Andreou, Senior Account Manager

Christina Kaili, Mediterranean Institute of Gender Studies

Pani Pantelides, Neonatal physiotherapist

Caroline Lee-Davey, CEO Bliss

Despina Nicolaou, orthoptist and mother

Helen L Bushell, Breastfeeding Peer Support & Infant Feeding Support Worker

Susan Jarman, Retired Community Midwife

Kicki Hansard, founder of The BirthBliss Academy

Zoe Faulkner, Chair, Lactation Consultants of Great Britain

Clare Meynell RM (rtd) IBCLC, World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative Steering Group

Helen Gray MPhil IBCLC, World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative Steering Group

Alison Spiro, PhD, MSc, RGN, QN, RHV, World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative Steering Group

Patricia Wise, Breastfeeding Counsellor, BEd, Diploma in Counselling, World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative Steering Group

Angela McConville, CEO, National Childbirth Trust

Debbie Barnett MBE, UK Association of Milk Banks

Shel Banks, Local Infant Feeding Information Board and Nursing Matters

Joeli Brearley, CEO and Founder, Pregnant Then Screwed

Emma Pickett, Chair, Association of Breastfeeding Mothers

Hannah Golligy Thompson, breastfeeding mother of twins

Clare Hitchen, health visitor

Amanda Dunbar, IBCLC and volunteer counsellor

Beth Forster, parent

Cheryl Capstick, breastfeeding counsellor

Emma Jones, breastfeeding mother

Natalie Robson

Fiona Woodhouse, breastfeeding mother

Chloe Kane, mother

Louise Wyllie, midwife

Sarah Dowland, breastfeeding mother

Emma Silburn

Nicola Walton, parent

Rivca Fletcher, parent

Varuni Mallikaarachchi, parent

M Goldsmith, parent

Rebecca Rothwell

Helen Robinson, breastfeeding peer supporter

Abigail Lutas, owner and teacher baby College South Tyneside and Gateshead

Charlotte Tait, parent

Dr Julia Tonge PhD, senior manager in rare disease, ICON

Gemma Conroy, parent and paediatric sister

Hannah, parent

Elizabeth Bamber, primary teacher

Gill Mitchell, mother

And many more...

Organisations

Hospital Infant Feeding Network

Breastfeeding for Doctors

GP Infant Feeding Network

Human Milk Foundation

Hearts Milk Bank

Bliss

The Breastfeeding Network

La Leche League GB

Association of Breastfeeding Mothers

National Childbirth Trust

All Party Parliamentary Group on Infant Feeding and Inequality

Better Breastfeeding

Doula UK

ButNotMaternity campaign (originated by The BirthBliss Academy)

World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative

Pregnant Then Screwed

Lactation Consultants GB

Early Nourishment CIC

Local Infant Feeding Board

Nursing Matters

UK Association of Milk Banking

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If you would like to sign the letter please click here

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