Breastfeeding gives your baby the best possible start in life. Breast milk provides more than nutrition – it helps protect your baby from illness and supports their development.

Although breastfeeding is natural, it can take time to learn. A wide range of support is available across the Northern Trust to help you.

Get support

You can access support in a number of ways:

• Breastfeeding peer support
• Local breastfeeding support groups
• Specialist feeding support (if needed)
• Antenatal workshops to help you prepare

Local breastfeeding support groups

Face-to-face support groups are available in your community through Sure Start and Health Visiting Services.

Antrim area

Antrim – Faranshane House

1 Ballygore Road, Antrim, BT41 2NR

• Telephone: 028 9446 9644
• Email: Ballymena.LittleStepsSS@actionforchildren.org.uk
• Second and fourth Monday of the month, 10:00am to 12:00pm

Ballymena and surrounding areas

Ballykeel – Business Centre

Unit 25, Ballykeel Business Care, Ballymena, BT42 4DN

• Telephone: 028 25644 2883
• Email: Ballymena.LittleStepsSS@actionforchildren.org.uk
• Third Thursday of every month, 10:00am to 12:00pm noon

Ballymena – St Josephs SureStart Centre

90 Doury Road, Ballymena, BT43 6JE

• Telephone: 028 2564 2883
• Email: Ballymena.LittleStepsSS@actionforchildren.org.uk
• First Thursday of the month, 10:00am to 12:00pm

Ballymena Health Visiting Team – West Church

19 Ballymoney Road, Ballymena, BT43 5BS

• Telephone: 028 2563 5353 or 028 2563 5235
• Second and fourth Thursday of the month, 10:30am to 12:00pm

Causeway area

Ballycastle – Dalriada Rural SureStart

55-57 Leyland Road, Ballycastle, BT54 6EZ

• Telephone: 028 2073 0444
• Email: adminDRSS@northerntrust.hscni.net
• Second and fourth Tuesday of the month, 10:00am to 12:00pm

Ballymoney – Connect Centre

2-10 Model School Road, Ballymoney, BT53 6DN

• Telephone: 028 2766 0311 or 028 2766 0345
• Second and fourth Tuesday of the month, 10:00am to 12:00pm

Bushmills – Dalriada Rural SureStart 

88 Main Street, Bushmills, BT57 8QD

• Telephone: 028 2073 0444
• Email: adminDRSS@northerntrust.hscni.net
• First and third Monday of the month, 10:00am to 12:00pm

Coleraine SureStart Partnership

34C Society Street, Coleraine, BT52 1LA

• Telephone: 028 7032 1032
• Thursdays,  11:00am to 12:30pm

North Coast Breastfeeding group

Portrush Medical Centre, Dunluce Avenue, Portrush, BT56 8DW

• Telephone: 028 7082 2423 or 028 7083 4264
• Second and fourth Wednesday of the month, 10:00am to 11:30am

Mid Ulster area

Cookstown – Gold SureStart

18 – 24 Loy Street, Cookstown, BT80 8PE

• Telephone: 028 8676 9994
• Wednesdays, 10:00am to 12:00pm

Kilrea Health Centre (Garvagh Health Visiting Team)

36 Garvagh Road, Kilrea, BT51 5QP

• Telephone: 028 2954 2275 or 028 2955 6494
• First and third Monday of each month, 10:00am to 12:00pm

Magherafelt – Baptist Church

6 Ballyronan Road, Magherafelt, BT45 6BP

• Telephone: 028 8676 9994
• Mondays, 10:00am to 12:00pm

East Antrim area

Bosom Buddies Abbey SureStart

440 Shore Road, Newtownabbey, BT37 9RU

• Telephone: 028 7032 1032
• Mondays, 10:00am to 11:30am

Carrickfergus – Horizon Surestart

Sunnylands Primary School, Sandes Court Entrance, Carrickfergus, BT38 8JJ

• Telephone: 028 9335 9734
• First and third Wednesday of each month, 11:00am to 12:00pm

Glengormley Health Visiting Team

Glengormley Community Services Centre, 40 Carnmoney Road, Newtownabbey, BT36 6HP

• Telephone: 028 9083 1502
• Decond and fourth Wednesday of every month, 11:00am to 12:00pm

Larne Health Centre (Health Visiting Team)

Gloucester Avenue, Larne, BT40 1PB

• Telephone: 028 2826 1936
• First, second and third Thursday of every month, 10.30am – 12.00 noon

Whitehead

17B Edward Road, Whitehead, Carrickfergus, BT38 9RU

• Telephone: 028 9337 0707
• Last Tuesday of the month, 11:00am to 12:00pm

Northern Ireland support groups

You can also get support from organisations across Northern Ireland.

• La Leche League Ireland

Specialist breastfeeding support

For more complex feeding challenges, specialist support is available.

You can be referred by your:

• Midwife
• Health visitor
• GP
• Sure Start team
• Paediatrician

Support is provided by Infant Feeding Leads, who are also International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs).

Antenatal breastfeeding workshops

Our infant feeding coordinators run breastfeeding workshops to support you on your breastfeeding journey. You and your partner can attend from 36 weeks of pregnancy.

Read more about Antenatal breastfeeding workshops.

Tongue-Tie and feeding support

Some babies are born with a condition called tongue-tie, where the strip of skin under the tongue is tighter than usual. This can sometimes affect how a baby feeds, although many babies are not affected at all.

If there are concerns about feeding, your baby can be referred for an assessment at a specialist clinic run by the infant feeding team at Antrim Area Hospital. Referrals are usually made by your midwife or health visitor after they have checked feeding and offered support.

Not all babies with a tongue-tie need treatment. In many cases, simple support with positioning and attachment can improve feeding.

If you are worried about your baby’s feeding or think your baby may have a tongue-tie, speak to your midwife or health visitor for advice and support.

Breastfeeding Peer Support Service

Our Breastfeeding Peer Support Service connects you with trained local mums who can offer friendly support and encouragement.

Peer supporters are mothers who have experience of breastfeeding. They are trained by our Infant Feeding Team and can share practical tips, reassurance, and understanding based on their own experiences.

They can help you:

• Work through common breastfeeding challenges
• Build confidence
• Talk about any concerns you may have

Support is available by phone or text, including outside normal working hours.

How to access the service

With your consent, a Peer Support Link Worker can connect you with a peer supporter. They will contact you directly and introduce themselves.

You can access this service by:

• Asking your midwife or health visitor to refer you
• Contacting the Peer Support Link Worker directly on 07500 089 1884

Breast pump loan services

Support is available if you need to express breast milk.