Breastfeeding

[Ok101]

Thinking about life after dc start school and wandered is there a job such as a breastfeeding consultant or councillor and if so how do you become one or what are the qualifications needed.

I wanted to be a breastfeeding helper with the NCT but at the time (many, many years ago) they told me it would take 7 years to train!

I don't think that can be true but at the time accepted it.

www.lcgb.org/why-ibclc/are-you-interested-in-becoming-an-ibclc/

Thank you both.

Not something i can do then. Thats a shame

Have a look at how to become a nct breastfeeding counsellor

Thanks nutella

Many areas have breastfeeding peer supporters. They are usually volunteers, but it might be worth getting some volunteer experience. The project local to me has two paid coordinators, who are not ibclc trained but are still very knowledgeable. As well as coordinating the volunteers and BF support groups they do home visits supporting women. I think it sounds like a really rewarding role! We have a few ibclc consultants locally, but they all do it as a side business. I think in our area (NE england) it'd be hard to rely on it for a full time income.

I'm counting in my head and I think I was 6 years from starting to study to be an nct bfc to actually getting my diploma.
You do practice before that though.

In my local area we have breastfeeding support groups where you can train to be a peer supporter it's volunteering but a full qualification which may help move into something else?

Jeez, it seems pretty bloody difficult to become a lactation consultant. No wonder there's not enough support for breastfeeding mums (aside from the funding issue).

Thanks all. I was hoping it would be easier as i have been breastfeeding 3 kids over the last 6 years! (Not all at once)! And still have a newborn due which will be breastfed. I thought breastfeeding experience would help.

I breastfed ds1 for 15 months and stopped 3 months before ds2 was born. Ds2 was breastfed for 3 years and weaned 3 months before dd1 was born and dd2 is due in the next couple of weeks and dd1 is still feeding so will probbaly tandem jurse unkess dd1 decides to stop.

I have faced most of the challengws that breastfeeding can bring. Sore cracked bleeding nipples. Poor latches. No support and mastitis to name a few and now have it down!

So i thought maybe this would be the best career for me as its pretty much the only thing in life i have been good at and i will be limited to time as i will have 4 kids close in age.

But now i see why i never got any support as its so bloody hard to become a supporter!! I remelber crying in pain and bleeding with ds1 because i couldnt get the latch right and couldnt stop due to cultural pressures. Health visitor just said oh it will get better. It did but took 3 konths of crying and being scred everytime he was hungry. I tried nipple shields. Didnt work. Tried expressing nothjng came out even though i had a huge supply. In the end i found a way of getting a better latch and it helped.

You live and learn but thats not enough to help others. I have helped a couplenof friends with breastfeeding and was proud of my self but kight not be the path for me after all

Wow my spelling is awful! Bloody phone!

Try the Breastfeeding Network. I trained as a peer supporter with them.
You can then progress to telephone support and then there are further opportunities with them where you get paid.
Also La Leche League do lots of training but I’ve no experience as to whether or not that eventually pays.

Thanks tipsy. I will take a look later