Meet our infant feeding specialists
Whether parents choose to breastfeed, express, or use formula, our dedicated infant feeding specialists are here to offer personalised, compassionate care. In this blog, we speak to Sophie and Caitlin, infant feeding specialist leads for maternity, who share insights into their roles, the unique challenges families may face in neonatal and maternity settings, and how our teams work together — from bedside support to donor milk services — to give every baby the best possible start.
Tell us about your roles as infant feeding specialist leads.
We hold strategic roles overseeing both inpatient and outpatient infant feeding services at Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea and St Mary’s hospitals and we work closely with the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) to maintain the high standards required in maternity care.
While our maternity staff are trained to offer infant feeding support, they can refer families to us for more complex cases that require specialist input. At St Mary’s, we also have a Band 6 infant feeding midwife who is dedicated to providing inpatient support.
How do our maternity wards differ from our neonatology unit?
Maternity wards typically care for healthy, full-term babies, so the infant feeding journey often differs significantly from that of babies cared for in the neonatal unit, where feeding can present additional challenges. For example, sometimes babies have problems co-ordinating sucking, swallowing and breathing and we must work with parents to overcome these challenges.
How do you support families on their infant feeding journey?
We encourage families to attend antenatal classes to help them prepare and build a basic understanding of infant feeding. All maternity staff are trained to support parents, whether they choose to breastfeed or bottle-feed. Families are also encouraged to access local drop-in clinics and breastfeeding support groups within their borough, which are led by maternity community teams.
Sophie and Caitlin"We also take time to acknowledge both the achievements and the challenges that parents experience with infant feeding."
How do you help parents build confidence in feeding during those critical first hours and days after birth?
We begin by having open conversations with parents to understand their wishes and goals for feeding. Together, we then create a realistic and personalised feeding plan. We also take time to acknowledge both the achievements and the challenges that parents experience with infant feeding.
How do you work collaboratively with the Milk Bank at Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea Hospital?
As a multidisciplinary team, our first choice of milk for babies is breast milk, however we acknowledge that for some mothers, for example those whose babies arrive in the world much earlier than expected, this isn’t always an option.
Donor milk is therefore primarily used for premature babies in the neonatal unit. Within maternity, we raise awareness of the milk bank by including information about breastmilk donation in staff training and parent education classes.
Why is World Breastfeeding Week important, and how can it make a difference in public understanding and support of infant feeding?
World Breastfeeding Week features a different theme each year. For 2025, the theme is ‘Prioritise breastfeeding – create sustainable support systems’. The campaign plays an important role in raising awareness around breastfeeding and gives healthcare professionals – like us – an opportunity to highlight the range of infant feeding support available within our services.
As well as reading our blog, we’d also encourage you to read a blog by Annie, a neonatal speech and language therapist within our neonatal unit.
What’s one myth about breastfeeding or infant feeding you'd love to bust?
One common myth is that breastfeeding is easy. In reality, both babies and parents are learning together, and it can take time, patience and support to establish feeding.
