RCM welcomes new funding for infant feeding and perinatal mental health support

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has welcomed funding for infant feeding and perinatal mental health support. Thousands of families and children across England will be able to access pregnancy support, infant feeding advice, parenting classes and other support to give their child the best start in life, following a £126 million government funding boost, delivering on the Government’s Plan for Change.

Around £57 million will be made available to 75 local authorities with high levels of deprivation in 2025 to 2026. This will provide support through Start for Life services to families with babies, from pregnancy up to the age of 2. The money will be given to local authorities and consists of:

• £36.5 million to improve mental health support for families and promote positive early relationships between babies and caregivers

• £18.5 million to improve infant feeding services and provide support with breastfeeding

• £2 million to ensure families can access and understand their local Start for Life services and support parents and carers to bring their valuable insight into service desig

RCM Chief Executive Gill Walton says: “We know that breastfeeding has an incredibly positive, lifelong impact on a baby’s health – but we also know that many women struggle to breastfeed successfully. Sometimes just having a midwife or maternity support worker there to give them encouragement, to let them know they’re doing OK, can make all the difference. Having access to trained professionals who can support them through this will help build their confidence and has the potential to have a real impact on the baby’s health.”

The RCM has long campaigned for better mental health support for women throughout pregnancy and in the postnatal period. Demand often outstrips supply when it comes to perinatal mental health support, but while this announcement falls short of the RCM’s wider call for investment in this area, it has welcomed the recognition of the need to invest in support for pregnant women and new mothers.

Walton continues: “Many of us think of new parenthood as a happy time, but for many women and families the strain can have a profound impact on their mental health. Tragically, suicide continues to be one of the most common causes of maternal death. Making sure that women have access to good, appropriate mental health support, both during and immediately following pregnancy, is vital. Undoubtedly there is much more to do, but this additional funding is welcome.”

Further information: rcm.org.uk/news