Becoming a breastfeeding counsellor

[soloula]

Where would I find advice about becoming a breastfeeding counsellor? Stupid question but is it actually a paid job or more a volunteer type thing? I'm looking at options of things I can do now the two dc are at school and nursery and this was something that always appealed to me as I know there is a real lack of support out there for breastfeeding mums. I bf both of my two for over a year each but I would never have done it without an amazing midwife in the first week and my health visitor that picked up where she left off afterwards. I know others aren't so lucky.

Does anyone do this and could they tell me a bit about training, how to find work and any useful resources. I'm in Scotland, Lanarkshire specifically, if that makes a difference to things.

In my area it’s voluntary work, though I’d imagine it may depend on your healthboard’s policy and if there’s funding available for such projects. Not too sure about training etc, but I’d start by asking your health visitor. The ones here are called “breast feeding peer support workers”- not sure if that’s the same as a breastfeeding counsellor or not.

Where I am (nowhere near Scotland) you can volunteer as a Breastfeeding Buddy, about 15 hours of training. For paid work you can do it with the NCT and I believe it is quite reasonably paid, but you need to do a serious amount of training, I think it's a degree. I think the Breastfeeding Network also do some training which might allow you in to hospitals but is also voluntary.

When I trained it was through nct and was a university diploma.
The work was part paid and part voluntary.
After I finished studying I think they introduced a free course for purely voluntary breastfeeding counselors.
I still use the skills I learnt in different ways now. It was very worthwhile.

There are both volunteer peer supporters (some training and often paid for by the NHS/children’s centre etc but not always). Breastfeeding or lactation consultants near me seem to do do some group support for free and do 1:1 home consultations. Costs £40ish per consultation of 1-1.5hoursish. Some also are NCT teachers, doulas etc. They are often La Leche affiliated and have a much more long training.

www.nct.org.uk/nct-college/work-opportunities/breastfeeding-counsellor
You did not have to go on ucas in the past!

I tried to access a NHS bf counsellor but due to budget cuts all the ones in my area had been made redundant. So there are already qualified bf counsellors out there with no jobs. It might be worth researching employment opportunities in your area before spending time doing a course.

Ooo this may be something I’m interested in so following

That's a fair point about employment opportunities spikey. Am thinking maybe my health visitor might be a good starting point?

I'll check with NCT and La Leche too.

At this stage I'm more curious than anything. I've been a SAHM for the last five years and have been struggling to think what I want to do if/when I decide to go back to work once the dc are both at school and this is something that's been at the back of my mind for a while.