Feeding your baby

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At Saint Mary’s Hospitals our staff are there to offer you help and support with your choice of feeding method for your baby both whilst you are still in hospital and after you have been discharged home.

Breast Feeding

Breastfeeding gives your baby the best possible start in life and benefits you too.

  • Breastmilk is the best form of nutrition for babies as it has all the nutrients a baby needs for the first 6 months of your baby’s life and is perfectly designed for your baby.
  • Breastfeeding helps to protect your baby from infection, because antibodies and other protective factors are passed into the breastmilk.
  • Breastfeeding also reduces your baby’s risk of sudden infant death (SIDS), obesity and childhood leukemia
  • Breastfeeding reduces the mother’s risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer and osteoporosis.
  • Breastfeeding can build a strong emotional bond between you and your baby.

When you are at home our specialist infant feeding team are still available to support you. We have a breastfeeding helpline on each site available with an answer phone facility so if there is no one available at the time of your call the team will always get back to you.

Tel: (0161) 276 8910 Saint Mary’s Oxford Road Campus

Tel: (0161) 291 5461 Saint Mary’s @ Wythenshawe

Please note breastfeeding support groups in Manchester were paused during the Covid-19 pandemic and we will update you as they are reinstated

Breastfeeding support resources

The Unicef UK Baby Friendly Initiative supports breastfeeding and parent infant relationships by working with public services to improve standards of care. Site offers evidenced based information and videos for parents.

Breastfeeding Friend voice search service through Google Assistant and Google Home, Amazon Alexa and Facebook Messenger.  This service provides advice and support with breastfeeding during the first few weeks.

80+ free evidence based supportive videos covering common questions for breastfeeding women.

Sale Sling Library – Tesco Extra, Manor Road, Altrincham WA15 9QT, see website for details.

Chorlton Sling Library – see website for details.

Infant feeding team

Oxford Road Campus – 0161 276 8910

St Mary’s @ Wythenshawe – 0161 291 5461

For further information on Hand Expression, Storage of Breastmilk and Vitamin D supplements see the full version of the Off to the Best Start Leaflet.

National Breastfeeding Support Number: 0300 100 0212   –   9am to 9.30pm

Breastfeeding Network.

La Leche League (LLL) (8am – 9.30pm)

Jeanette 0161 355 8675 (daytime)

Helen 0161 439 3069 (evenings and weekends)

National Number: 0845 120 2918

Helen also runs monthly LLL meetings for breastfeeding mothers.

Association of Breastfeeding Mothers 09.30am to 10.30pm – Tel 0300 330 5453

NCT (National Childbirth Trust)

NCT National BF Support 0300 330 0700 8am-10pm

Breast Pump Hire

Jane Tuzio 0161 962 2146

Medela Pump Hire 0161 776 0400

Planning to formula feed your baby?

If you choose to not breastfeed you will need to bring enough pre-packed bottles of a readymade newborn formula into hospital with you to last for your stay.

In order to reduce the risk of infection to your baby we recommend that you purchase at least one ‘starter pack’ of first infant milk containing 6 bottles and 6 teats.  These are disposable, sterile, single use bottles and provide the safest option when formula feeding you baby whilst in hospital.

Saint Mary’s Hospital does not hold a supply of formula milk so it is important that you purchase this starter pack in advance of coming to hospital to have your baby.  You can buy them from most local supermarkets.

Please note that we are unable to store opened formula milk on the wards so please do not bring in a large bottle of milk for your baby.

Information on the preparation of formula and bottle feeding can be found here.