A local breastfeeding support group in East Kilbride is being celebrated for its powerful role in nurturing new mums and their babies — providing both practical advice and emotional support that is helping to create lasting bonds and boost confidence in early parenthood.
Meeting every Friday at the Village Centre, the group offers a safe, welcoming space for mums at all stages of their breastfeeding journey. Whether they’re seeking advice, a confidence boost, or simply the company of others who understand, the group has become a lifeline for many — including mum-of-two Faith Dawson-Bowman, who moved to East Kilbride from Crewe to study and stayed to raise her family.
Faith, mum to five-month-old Erraid and three-year-old Finlay, said: “It was my lifeline when I had a tough week. The group is completely non-judgemental — people are on the same wavelength. I learned so much there with my first, and now with my second I feel more confident. I’ve also been able to support other mums too.”
As well as supporting breastfeeding itself, the group fosters strong peer connections. Faith shared how it helped her find “best mum friends” and a support network that continues to meet regularly and chat daily.
The group is supported by Tracy Brown, a Healthcare Support Worker with South Lanarkshire University Health and Social Care Partnership, who is a consistent presence each Friday and sees the strength of the group first-hand.
Tracy said: “The peer support between the mums is truly outstanding. Some mums come every week, some drop in when they need to — whether it’s for help, a listening ear, or just the social aspect. It’s lovely when we see mums come back again with their second baby.”
Health Visitor Lesley Adams added: “We visit new mums as soon as possible after they’re discharged by the midwife. That’s often when breastfeeding is toughest — particularly if a mum is recovering from a caesarean or a difficult birth. We promote these groups right from our first visit because they offer the kind of nurturing, judgement-free environment mums really need.”
The group, open to both antenatal and postnatal mums, also encourages social outings in local cafes that proudly display their breastfeeding-friendly credentials.
This grassroots support aligns directly with South Lanarkshire’s new Strategic Commissioning Plan 2025–2028, which names “Nurture” as one of its five strategic goals — aiming to help more children reach their developmental milestones by ensuring families are supported from the earliest days.
Jill Irwin, Interim Associate Nurse Director for South Lanarkshire University Health and Social Care Partnership said: “Our staff play such an important role in the breastfeeding journey — offering support, encouragement and expert care to mums and families across our communities.
“We’re incredibly grateful to all the mums who engage with our services and provide such valuable feedback. It allows us to continually shape and tailor our support to meet the needs of families locally.
“What we’re seeing through groups like the one in East Kilbride is the enduring strength of peer support. As Faith has shared, these groups can help build lasting friendships and create a powerful network that extends far beyond the weekly meet-up. With a breastfeeding group available every day across South Lanarkshire, the message is clear — no one has to navigate early parenthood alone.”
Latest figures show that over half of South Lanarkshire infants received breast milk in 2024, with figures rising every year and an increase of 7% in the past three years.
Professor Soumen Sengupta, Chief Officer of South Lanarkshire University Health and Social Care Partnership, added: “It was lovely to meet Faith and Erraid, and to hear first-hand the difference that the expert advice and thoughtful support provided by our dedicated staff can and is making to their family and others.
It’s really encouraging that more than half of infants received breast milk last year. Our priority is to support new mums and ensure they have an informed choice — and initiatives like this show how we can work together with families to make that a reality.
“By nurturing new families through meaningful, community-based support, we are helping children get the very best start in life. It is a wonderful example of our strategic ambitions in action, brought to life by our committed staff and with the support of local people.”
With groups now running daily across the area, mums can access local, trusted support whenever they need it — whether for advice, a friendly chat, or simply reassurance that they are not alone.
The East Kilbride breastfeeding group meets at the Village Centre 11.45am on Fridays. All other breastfeeding groups across South Lanarkshire can be found on
https://www.nhslanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk/services/infantfeeding/
Picture caption: (from left to right) Jill Irwin, Lesley Adams, Tracy Brown, Faith Dawson-Bowman, baby Erraid and Professor Soumen Sengupta.
