The Breastfeeding Network Drugs in Breastmilk Service

24/06/2026

🌡️ It’s a hot one this week, especially in parts of England and Wales with the red weather warning.

Some mental health medications can affect how your body handles heat, raising the risk of dehydration or overheating.

Look after yourself and check out our website for tips 👉 https://bit.ly/4xTT5N8

24/06/2026

24/06/2026

22/06/2026

Got questions about breastfeeding this summer? We've got you covered 🌞

Whether you're enjoying the sunshine, managing hayfever, or enjoying a summer cocktail, our Drugs in Breastmilk Service is here to help.

Here are some useful factsheets for the summer months:

💜 Vitamin D - including information on sunlight and Vitamin D:
www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/factsheet/vitamind/

💜 Hayfever & Antihistamines - for those summer allergies:
www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/factsheet/hayfever/
www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/factsheet/antihistamines/

💜 Creams & Ointments - including sun cream:
www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/factsheet/creams/

💜 Alcohol - for those holidays and summer BBQs:
www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/factsheet/alcohol/

💜 Pain Relief - useful all year round!
www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/factsheet/analgesics/

If you can't find the answer you're looking for, our team are available every day of the year:

📩 [email protected]
💬 Or drop us a message on Facebook or Instagram

Our factsheets are free and written by our incredible volunteer pharmacists. If you can contribute to The Breastfeeding Network (UK), we are always grateful for donations 💜

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/get-involved/donate/

🌞Please share to help us reach mums who may need this information this summer 🌞

[ID: The Breastfeeding Network Drugs in Breastmilk Information. Questions about breastfeeding this summer? www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/drugs-factsheets. A mum sat on a boat on a lake, breastfeeding her child.]

22/06/2026

Today's is accepted 💜

However you're feeding your baby, and whatever your summer looks like - we're here to support you!

With another UK heatwave this week, we want to remind you to take care of yourself too:

💜 Stay hydrated - while you're keeping your little ones hydrated, don't forget about yourself! Breastfeeding can be thirsty work even without the warm weather.

💜 If you're breastfeeding, your baby may want more frequent feeds in the heat - that's completely normal. No water is needed for babies under 6 months.

💜 If you're bottle feeding, babies under 6 months can be given small sips of cooled boiled water as needed.

💜 You can use sun cream as normal while breastfeeding.

💜 Sun cream isn't recommended for babies under 6 months. Keeping them in the shade is the best way to protect them - and you'll both be more comfortable feeding in the shade too.

Please get in touch with our National Breastfeeding Helpline UK for friendly, empathetic, non-judgemental infant feeding support, anytime:

📞 0300 100 0212
💬 Or send a DM

You can also find information on our local groups and The Breastfeeding Network Drugs in Breastmilk Service, here:
https://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/drop-in-centres-map/

✨Please share to help us reach those who may need a little reminder today ✨

[ID: . A mum in a rainbow dress is breastfeeding her baby in a sunny garden.]

19/06/2026

It's only been a couple of months since we released our HRT, Hormones, Menopause and Breastfeeding factsheet - and we're so happy to see that, along with the support of our wonderful volunteer pharmacists, it's already making a difference 💜

Thank you to Katie for allowing us to share her feedback. Hearing how our factsheets and support have made a difference means so much to us, and helps us continue to improve the resources we offer 💜

You can read the full HRT, Hormones, Menopause and Breastfeeding factsheet here:

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/factsheet/hrt-hormones-menopause-and-breastfeeding/

✨ Have you used our factsheets, or contacted us directly? We'd love to hear your feedback! ✨

[ID: To hear from you who obviously care for women like me and totally understand what I’m going through is very refreshing and very very lovely to hear, so thankyou for that! My son is thriving for his age, and I genuinely believe that breastfeeding has played a massive part of that, so I hope women like me do get more support in the future to keep going for as long as possible. And it’s companies like yourself doing great things to help in one way is what this country needs… And it’s nice to know I have a safe place to come back to if I need anymore advice. - Katie.]

17/06/2026

You don't need to wait until your baby is here to seek support 🩷

There's no such thing as a silly question...
Give us a call, or drop us a message, anytime!

📞 0300 100 0212
💌 send a DM

We're free*, confidential, and your call or message will always be answered by a mum with experience breastfeeding, who has been trained to provide breastfeeding support.

Our service is provided by The Breastfeeding Network (UK) , with Association of Breastfeeding Mothers

Why not save our number in your phone in case you need us again 💜

*Call Charges to all helplines apply. Calls to 0300 numbers cost no more than calls to UK numbers starting 01 and 02 and will be part of any inclusive minutes that apply to your provider and call package.

17/06/2026

It's Cervical Screening Awareness Week - so we're here to remind you how important it is for everyone with a cervix to have cervical screening.

Please book an appointment as soon as you are invited. If you're unsure if you've missed a screening, please contact your GP.

NHS update from July last year:

"... younger women (aged 25 to 49) who test negative for HPV, meaning they are at very low risk of cervical cancer over the next 10 years, will safely be invited at 5-year intervals rather than 3, in line with major clinical evidence.

Those whose sample indicates the presence of HPV or who have a recent history of HPV, which causes nearly all cervical cancers, will continue to be invited to more frequent screenings to check HPV has cleared and if not, if any cell changes have developed."

Source: www.england.nhs.uk/2025/06/nhs-rolls-out-more-personalised-cervical-screening-for-millions/

Please speak to your GP if you are worried about how this may affect you.

✨Please share to help raise awareness✨

[ID: Cervical Screening Awareness Week. Everyone with a cervix, between the ages of 25 and 64, should have cervical screening. Teal ribbon.]

[ID: Cervical Screening Awareness Week. Everyone with a cervix, between the ages of 25 and 64, should have cervical screening. Teal colour cervical cancer awareness ribbon. 15th - 21st June.]