Are paid jobs in breastfeeding support like hen's teeth?

[Driveway]

I'm looking at becoming a peer supporter, and doing a course with one of the breastfeeding groups (does anyone have any views on who is best for that?) but thinking off into the future, is it ever likely I'd be able to find paid work? I really feel passionate about breastfeeding and it's the first thing I can think of that I care about in a way I would like to make it my job.
(I suspect it is something people do for the love.)

[curlyclaz13]

Oddly I was wondering this last night. Lactation consultant ? Or training peer supporters ? Didn't get far due to ds waking up for a feed then I fell asleep !

[PurpleWithaMysteryBun]

Yes hens teeth. They do come up in certain areas, however typically you would need to some further training and have greater responsibilities.
Also as a field it is is not generally well paid unless you become a private LC which is a very expensive qualification and hard to get the right amount if academic study and clinical experience now they have changed the criteria.

[PurpleWithaMysteryBun]

As for doing peers support training, it depends where you live, I would get in touch with your local children's centre and see if they run a group, same with your hospital as if they do, they will do periodic training of new ps.

[CelticPromise]

I'm a peer supporter and paid jobs are few and far between. It's a particular bugbear of mine that I've volunteered in a hospital that covered two boroughs- neighbouring borough PSs paid while we were not! Still, I do it for the love as you say. If you can train with BfN they occasionally have jobs come up and insist applicants have their training I believe. The jobs I have seen are generally poorly paid and very part time. Lactation consultant is an option but it's a long hard road unless you already have health/science qualifications and I personally would find it hard to charge privately. I've decided to go back to uni and become a midwife

[Wosson]

How about starting as a maternity support worker on the wards?

[ZenNudist]

How about training with the nct to do antenatal classes. Bf support is part of training but covers much more and you can make money from it!

[changeforthebetter]

I did it for a while (volunteer then paid). The salary was a pittance and the workload high but it was fantastically rewarding There were massive funding cuts here which is why I left. You really do need to volunteer first to show commitment though.