To use this thread to promote the National Breastfeeding Helpline?

[FishAlive12345]

NBH are launching a new night service on Friday 29th March 2024, which will make the service 24 hours (currently operates 930-2130).

This is pilot for 1 year and if the service is used enough it could become permanent.

It feels like the level of breastfeeding support many recieve is dire and more support would improve the UK's depressingly low breastfeeding rates.

I am desperate to get the word out that there is a lovely free expert on hand for those awful heart wrenching moments when you are crying alone at 4am because breastfeeding is such a struggle. The helpline supporters are fabulous and they have had a HUGE amount of training and breastfed their own babies.

In 2010 exclusive breastfeeding at six weeks was 24% in England compared to 17% in Wales and 13% in Northern Ireland (Unicef)

Is it just my perception or have many women never heard the helpline exists? I wish they would promote it more in maternity wards

Please spread the word and comment on this thread to make it trend, so that this amazing service gets used and will continue to receive funding.

Oh brilliant! Thanks for highlighting that. Some of my biggest breastfeeding challenges early on were in the middle of the night. Great there will be someone to advise those having difficulties.

Oh and very important info - the helpline number is 0300 100 0212

They can talk through anything at all breastfeeding related and are very empathetic and understanding.

Support is also available in Welsh, Polish, Bengali & Sylheti and for people who have hearing or speech impairments.

If the helpline is busy you can leave a message and they will call you back ASAP

Thanks for highlighting this as I am currently breastfeeding my lo & I didn't know about this support.

My kids are older but I wasn’t aware of this service. I hope it helps women who are struggling to BF, to feel they are able to continue.

I didn't know about this! I'm 5 months in now and bf is a doddle, but would definitely have phoned at 4am some nights before 12 weeks.

Thanks for sharing this as I’m sure many new mums will appreciate it. I think more in-person support is needed to improve the stats you refer to though! However this is a good start.

This is amazing! I have a 3mo abs we still struggle with latching etc, this is a great support .

I rang them on my first and wasn't particularly impressed tbh. No more knowledge than I and my friends already had and the woman on the other end of the phone was clearly a bit distracted by the child related chaos going on in the background in her house.

YABVU
There is an appropriate thread elsewhere

I can see why Y consider me to B U.

I have seen lots of 'posting for traffic' so thought I would have more chance of spreading the word here

Maybe I could reframe my question - AIBU to think more people should be aware of the National Breastfeeding Helpline?

Not UR at all! Thank you for this!

What a shame to hear that you felt in need of support and didn't get what you were seeking. Sorry to hear you experienced that.

It's against the BFH rules for the helpline volunters to be responsible for children whilst taking calls, how unfortunate that you experienced this.

The training requirement for helpine counsellors consists of completing one short foundation course (around 24 hours) and then a second very intensive course which takes 2 years, part time. It's extremely detailed and covers the physiology of breastfeeding in far more depth than the average layperson would know. They also recieve a large amount of counselling skills training and many practice calls. All of the training is unpaid and most have to pay for membership of one of the training bodies. Similar for some in-person volunteer supporters too.

It makes me sick to my core that the majority of breastfeeding support in the UK is carried out by unpaid volunteers who are overburdened, busy mothers who spend years training unpaid and sometimes even have to pay for the privilage.

While I'm ranting, I also want to point out that many GPs recieve NO TRAINING AT ALL in breastfeeding.

This sounds great!

But I am a bit astonished I have never heard about it... I have bf my two boys in the past few years and I was desperate for support with DS1, so I would have thought I'd come across it. Im part of a patient feedback network for maternity services so I will pass this on and see whether we can get it promoted more locally.

That's a great idea, thank you. Sorry to hear you struggled and were desperate for support.

I wonder if it's something Mumsnet could promote? @MNHQ @BeckyAMumsnet?