Covid-19 continues to impact community services and practical and emotional support for new parents. Postnatal experiences remain particularly difficult. New mums report high levels of isolation and anxiety and struggle to get support with feeding their baby. Women of Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, or living in the most deprived areas, are disproportionately affected – with higher risk for mums and their babies, and more challenging experiences of mental health and infant feeding.

We will expand capacity on our free-to-access Infant Feeding Line to support more new mums during the very early days and weeks with their baby. Trained counsellors will provide a listening ear and skilled support with all types of infant feeding, and ensure effective safeguarding and signposting to specialist feeding and mental health services.