Celebrating 10 years of dining out at breastfeeding pop-up

Mothers across Southwark have celebrated 10 years of breastfeeding coffee mornings in a special pop-up café in Peckham Library.

The pop-up opened to offer breastfeeding mums advice over coffee and cake from health visitors, community midwives and breastfeeding peer counsellors. It provides a peaceful place for them to go and relax while feeding their babies without having to worry about privacy.

10 years ago health visitors from Guy’s and St Thomas’ worked with midwives from Southwark Children’s Centre to open five breastfeeding support cafés across the borough. The cafés are very popular and have a dedicated following, with some mums still returning years later.

Madeline Eaton from Camberwell takes three week old Beatrice, who is tongue tied, to the Peckham pop-up to get advice. She says: “I brought my first child, Fabian, to the breastfeeding café nearly three years ago. He was also tongue tied and without the support of this café I would not have managed to breastfeed either of my children.

“The mothers and staff are amazing – their knowledge and expertise is priceless to any new mum. If any women in Southwark are feeling trapped at home or struggling to breastfeed they should find out where their nearest breastfeeding pop-up is and visit – they won’t regret it.” 

Clarissa Georgestone, breastfeeding coordinator for Guy’s and St Thomas’ community services, was part of the team who launched the initiative. She says: “I am really proud to have been involved in this from the beginning and delighted to be celebrating 10 years of success today.

“For some people breastfeeding can be difficult so we wanted to create a welcoming space where there is no shame in not getting it right first time – many mums don’t and we want to help.

“Breastfeeding can cause a lot of anxiety in new mums and I know I have done my job when they arrive uptight and worried and then leave confident and relaxed – that makes it all worthwhile.”