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GBSN was co-founded in 2002 by Elizabeth May, Christine Mitchell and Sally Nutt. It became a charity in 2007and has since grown into a network of seven support groups across the county, also offering 1:! video calls and Preparation for Breastfeeding workshops. The group also runs training sessions for Peer Supporters and volunteers.
GBSN’s philosophy is to repsond to the needs of each particular community, to respect each person’s experience to nurture, and to help develop innate strengths and abilities for supporting mothers to achieve their unique feeding goals.
All of GBSN’s peer supporters are local mothers who have breastfed at least one baby, for at least six months.
Here’s what some of their nominations said:
Elizabeth was always warm and welcoming, and really helped me start my breastfeeding journey with confidence after leaving hospital. I attended other groups and never had the same level of comfort that I had when attending BAPS, and so much of that was down to Elizabeth. I returned on a number of occasions, sometimes a couple of months apart when I felt I needed more information or adjustment with feeding. Every time I felt welcomed and at ease. I’ve recommended BAPS to others because of Elizabeth’s expertise and approach. I will always be grateful to her for her help and input.
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I attended when my son was 5 weeks old after an emergency c section due to struggling to get him to latch in a comfortable position the whole team at the stroud group were welcoming friendly and fantastic!
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If it wasn’t for GBSN I wouldn’t still be feeding my 21 month old son
I can’t thank them enough, they deserve all the credit in the world true heroes.—
The GBSN groups at Dursley and Stroud (both called MOBS) Led by bfc’s who were such a source of support for me when bfing my son through a tongue tie and then after his division procedure. I remember just walking through the door of MOBS Dursley and bursting into tears and everyone just took me in and held such a safe space for me.
I went from two weeks after giving birth. I was having a lot of problems with pain when feeding including being mishapen and cracked after every feed close to bleeding. Everyone had said my baby didn’t have a tongue tie as he was putting on weight but I was feeling so alone in the journey thinking I was doing it wrong because it was so painful. Every single lady at that group supported me in giving advice on positions (including videos), telling me about their own journeys so I didn’t feel like I was just going through it alone and no one else had, watching latching and making sure I was supporting my baby in the right way, being kind and encouraging and supportive. I suddenly felt like I had a whole bunch of incredible cheerleaders who were making sure I felt good about breastfeeding as I was desperate to continue and not “give up”… once we realised my baby did have a tongue tie I was able to talk through the process with all the ladies and they told me about their experiences and what kind of thing I should expect at the appointment (one of the ladies who’s baby is two weeks older than mine had the same so it was nice to be going through it with her and she was a GBSN peer supporter too!). I’ve tried so many positions, used shields/creams etc and gone through so much breastfeeding in just two and a half months, and I can honestly say I’d have given it up if it hadn’t been for all of the ladies at GBSN. I can’t thank them all enough – I’m going to be heartbroken when my breastfeeding journey ends and I have to go back to work and not see these ladies every week – also the cup of tea and cake every week is delicious!!
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GBSN found a way to provide one to one support all through covid, and groups when allowed outdoors then small numbers and now back to normal . Innovative and person centred – our county has enjoyed excellent breastfeeding support for parents, enabling them to access peer support and information from counsellors. Peer supporters and volunteers fundraise too to keep it all going.
It’s in total some 18-20 years now for some groups !—
I first attended this charity run group in November 2016 with my 9 day old newborn. I was struggling enormously with breastfeeding as well as my mental health and they welcomed me and my husband with open arms, smiles and a hot cup of tea. I was able to get some support with positioning and attachment from Emily the BFC on duty and within 24 hours my baby was like a different child!
I went on to get support from them over the next year or so from allergy information, p&a, tongue tie and mastitis. I recall Emily coming to see me and sitting on the floor of my home whilst I sobbed about how much pain I was in and how deflated I felt that this time round I “couldn’t do it”.
The women around me gradually became friends and I went on to train with them as a voluntary peer supporter, a role I did for 5 years. During that time they not only supported my breastfeeding journey but the entire transition to parenthood, I was a mother who needed to be mothered and that is what they did for me. I felt truly honoured to be able to pay forward some of the amazing support I had received and help in facilitating other families on their journey.—
In 2021 I was able to train as an NCT BFC myself with the support and sponsorship of GBSNand have been running a group since Sept of 2022. Walking through those doors as a brand-new mum of two, in the depths of postnatal depression I had no idea what GBSN would come to mean to me. The empowerment, courage and belief in myself
that this group gave me is something I will cherish forever. The support from Emily drove me to find my path in life and the incredible knowledge and guidance of Meg whilst I was training has meant I have begun my journey to keep that legacy going. To create a space for mothers to be mothers, to find their tribe and tap into their passion, power and knowledge for years to come.
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The GBSN group MOBS in Stroud was and is an absolute lifeline for me, all the way from my first visit with my 3 week old first baby right up to now when that ‘baby’ is 12 years old! They have given me help, support, vital information on how to feed my baby and lifelong friendships that I can’t imagine coping with the challenges of parenthood without. I still regularly attend as a volunteer to make new mums a cup of tea and all of the BFCs and volunteers are wonderful.
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Danni helped me before, during and has been a support after feeding my twins. When I was wobbling with feeding her guidance ensured that I was able to persevere and feel more confident that I was able to provide for my babies. The weekly groups gave us a safe space to speak with other parents, have help with feeding positions, or just get a hot drink, a hug and a sympathetic ear.
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MOBS offered a safe and supporting environment for myself and my wife after we had our second child. My wife suffered greatly with PND and psychosis. The support we received from GBSN literally saved our lives.
