Breastfeeding
SureStart Useful contact information Places where mothers welcome to breastfeed in Bedford
Breastfeeding has significant health benefits for both mother and baby also allows you and your baby to get closer - physically and emotionally.
Breast milk gives babies all the nutrients they need for the first six months of life and helps to protect from infection and diseases. It reduces the risk of gastroenteritis, ear and chest infections, obesity in later life, Diabetes, eczema and asthma.
For mothers it significantly reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancer and osteoporosis in later life and also helps the mother to lose weight after birth
For further information on breastfeeding visit www.breastfeeding.nhs.uk
NHS Bedfordshire has developed a range of initiatives to encourage and support mothers, who start to breastfeed, to continue for as long as they choose to do so.
It is committed to increasing the knowledge and skills of all the staff working with mothers and babies, so that they can offer expert support to breastfeeding mothers.
NHS Bedfordshire is also very proud to have a number of local mothers, who have recently trained and qualified as volunteer breastfeeding peer support workers. These volunteers use their own experiences of breastfeeding to help and support new mothers.
One issue for mothers can be finding places to breastfeed when they are out and about and also seeking support when they may need some extra help with breastfeeding.
The information below provides details of the support available and lists all the establishments in Bedford which welcome breastfeeding. (Please note that further information will be added for other locations in Bedfordshire in due course).
SureStart Cauldwell Children’s Centres
SureStart Cauldwell is part of a national initiative to support families with children under five years old.
They are located in Bedford at:
Peter Pan Children's Centre
Cherry Trees Children's Centre
Southway Early Childhood Centre
They run events and friendly activities throughout the year, offering specialist advice from qualified staff, including midwives, health visitors and benefit advisors.
They work closely with voluntary organisations such as Home Start and Family Groups.
You can contact SureStart Cauldwell on 01234 269512 or visit online at www.surestartcauldwell.co.uk for more information.
Useful contact information
- National Breastfeeding helpline number: 0300 100 0212
- Breastfeeding Network helpline number: 0300 100 0210
- National Childbirth Trust breastfeeding helpline: 0300 330 0771
- La Leche League Helpline number (24 hours): 0845 120 2918
Local breastfeeding counsellors in Bedfordshire:
- Jo: 01525 635381
- Sarah: 07005 803298
- Karen: 01234 713370
Breastfeeding support groups in Bedfordshire:
- Bedford
Tuesday: 13.30- 15.30pm, Queens Park Neighbourhood Centre, Marlborough Road
Thursday: 10.00-12 noon, St Johns Hall Bedford (NCT)
Friday: 10.00 – 12 noon, Peter Pan Children’s Centre, Edward Road - Flitwick
Thursday: 14.00-16.00, Flitwick Health Centre, Highlands - Sandy
Tuesday: 10.00-11.30, Sandy Baptist Church - Biggleswade
Thursday: 10.00-12 noon, Garden Annexe Lawns, Early Excellence Centre, The Baulk - Potton
Friday: 13.00-14.30, Potton Community Centre, Brook End - Leighton Buzzard
Wednesday: 11.00-13, Roundabout Children’s Centre, St. Georges Lower School - Toddington
Tuesdays (weekly): 12.30 – 13.30, Toddington Medical Centre - Shefford
Mondays (weekly): 9.30 - 12.00, Shefford Health Centre
The following establishments welcome breastfeeding mothers:
| Establishment | Hot water or a bottle warmer available for Mothers to use |
Baby changing facilities available on the premises | Access for pramsand buggies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bar Citrus - 29 Harpur Street
Mothers are welcome to breastfeed in any area |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| BBs Coffee and Muffins - Harpur Centre
Mothers are welcome to breastfeed in any area |
Yes Microwave also available |
Yes Available throughout the Harpur Centre |
Yes |
| Bedford Central Library/Green Coffee Company - Harpur Street
Mothers are welcome to breastfeed in the children’s section of the library and the café |
Yes Microwave also available |
Yes Lift access to the library for prams and buggies but not to the café |
|
| Beefeater Grill - Priory Marina
Mothers are welcome to breastfeed in any area |
Yes Microwave also available |
Yes |
Yes |
| Boots - Interchange Retail Park
Mothers are welcome to breastfeed using the private booths |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Pizza Express - 22 St Peter’s Street
Mothers are welcome to breastfeed in any area |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Pizza Hut - 68 High Street
Mothers are welcome to breastfeed in any area |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Pensieri - Castle Quay
Mothers are welcome to breastfeed in any area |
Yes Microwave also available |
Yes |
Yes |
| Platters - 11 The Arcade
Mothers are welcome to breastfeed in any area |
Yes Microwave also available |
Yes |
|
| Robinson Pool - Bedford Park
Mothers are welcome to breastfeed in any area except poolside and Images fitness suite |
Yes Microwave also available |
Yes |
Yes |
| Sainbury’s - Clapham Road
Mothers are welcome to breastfeed in any area |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Sainsbury’s - Bedford Road, Kempston
Mothers are welcome to breastfeed in the baby changing area as there is no café facility |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Sandwich Express - 4 Mill Street
Mothers are welcome to breastfeed in any area |
Yes Microwave also available |
Yes |
|
| Caffe Portioli - 18 All Hallows
Mothers are welcome to breastfeed in any area |
Yes Microwave also available |
Yes |
Yes |
| Casbah Café - 70 High Street
Mothers are welcome to breastfeed in any area |
Yes Microwave also available |
Yes |
|
| Clydes Bistro - Howard Centre
Mothers are welcome to breastfeed in any area |
Yes Microwave also available |
Yes Baby changing facilities are available throughout the Harpur Centre |
Yes |
| Costa Coffee - 33 Midland Road
Mothers are welcome to breastfeed in any area |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| The Embankment Hotel
Mothers are welcome to breastfeed in any area |
Yes Microwave also available |
Yes |
Yes |
| Frankie and Benny’s - Goldington Road
Mothers are welcome to breastfeed in any area |
Yes Microwave also available |
Yes |
Yes |
| Frescoes - 20 Mill Street
Mothers are welcome to breastfeed in any area |
Yes Microwave also available |
Yes |
|
| The Harpur Coffee Company - Harpur Centre
Mothers are welcome to breastfeed in any area |
Yes |
Yes Baby changing facilities are available throughout the Harpur Centre |
Yes |
| Luscious Juice Bar - 4 Lime Street
Mothers are welcome to breastfeed in any area |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| McDonalds - 9 High Street
Mothers are welcome to breastfeed in any area |
Yes Microwave also available |
Yes |
|
| Mill Yard Café - 1 Mill Yard
Mothers are welcome to breastfeed in any area |
Yes Microwave also available |
Yes |
|
| Nandos - 3 High Street
Mothers are welcome to breastfeed in any area |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Star Café - 14 All Hallows
Mothers are welcome to breastfeed in any area |
Yes Microwave also available |
Yes |
|
| Tesco - Cardington Road
Mothers are welcome to breastfeed in any area |
Yes Microwave also available |
Yes |
Yes |
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