Charity support eased painful early days for new mother at Pilgrim Hospital
When Jess King gave birth to her first child, Alice, at Pilgrim Hospital, Boston in May 2026 she believed feeding was going well despite the pain that can come with early breastfeeding. Within days, however, Alice’s breathing turned irregular and clinicians discovered the baby was dehydrated. That set in motion a series of events that left both mother and child struggling to maintain breastfeeding.
“I didn’t realise she wasn’t getting enough milk. The hospital’s infant feeding team were so patient and explained how to express my colostrum and monitor how much feed she was taking.”
The infant feeding midwife team supported Jess through expressing colostrum and taught her how to track feeds. A key moment came when United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity provided a mechanical breast pump for Jess to borrow. She says it reduced the pain of expressing and allowed her to build a small store of milk in the fridge for top-ups when needed.
When Alice, at three weeks old, was urgently transferred to Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham with a suspected viral meningitis and was too ill to feed, Jess also became unwell and her milk supply dropped. With further input from Mel Baldwin, the hospital’s Infant Feeding Midwife, Jess continued to use the pump and reports a gradual return of her milk.
Practical support available across the county
The mechanical pumps are available to loan at both Lincoln County Hospital and Pilgrim Hospital, Boston to mothers who face early breastfeeding challenges. The story is published ahead of World Breastfeeding Week (1–7 August), which promotes the health benefits of breastfeeding and highlights the need for practical help for new parents.
- Loan pumps: available at Lincoln County Hospital and Pilgrim Hospital, Boston.
- Infant feeding support: one-to-one help from hospital midwives, including expressing technique and monitoring intake.
- Charitable funding: equipment supplied through United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity to support breastfeeding journeys.
Local midwives say this combination of clinical advice and equipment can make a “huge difference” for mothers who feel anxious or inadequate during the early days of parenting. The pumps give families time and flexibility when babies are unwell or when breastfeeding is painful.
| Support | Location |
|---|---|
| Breast pump loan | Pilgrim Hospital, Boston; Lincoln County Hospital |
| Infant feeding midwife support | United Lincolnshire Hospitals infant feeding teams |
| Awareness week | World Breastfeeding Week: 1–7 August |
Why it matters locally
Breastfeeding support affects both immediate infant health and parental wellbeing. Mechanical pumps can be an important bridge when babies are temporarily unable to feed or when mothers face pain or illness. For the Lincolnshire hospitals involved, charity funding helps extend that practical support without adding pressure to clinical budgets.
For families in Boston and across Lincolnshire who are struggling with early feeding, the message is clear: there is local help available, and asking for support can change the outcome of a mother’s breastfeeding journey.
United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity and the infant feeding teams at Pilgrim and Lincoln County hospitals continue to provide equipment loans and advice. Expectant and new parents who need help should contact their hospital maternity or infant feeding services directly for information on borrowing pumps and accessing midwife support.
