OK, first off - don't laugh. Can someone please talk to me about breastfeeding peer support/counselling training?

[gaelicsheep]

After all the difficulties I've had in the past, and assuming I make it to 6 months plus with DD, I'm thinking I would like to train so that I can help others. But oh, I'm getting mighty confused at all the different options out there.

1. What exactly is a peer supporter, as opposed to a mother supporter, breast friend, or whatever other terms I've seen bandied about?

2. Can you actually train as a peer supporter on an individual basis? Both sets of info I've looked at (NCT and ABM) seem to aim the info about peer support at organisations wanting to block book. Who would block book these sessions and how would I get to know about it?

3. Moving on from peer support, what is the difference between the counselling training offered by the different organisations, the weight attached to it, and what you can do with it? ABM, for example, seems to charge £100 for a breastfeeding counselling course that lasts up to 2 years. NCT states that their diploma costs £4400 (!), but that they usually offer to pay for it, and it sounds like it can take much longer (more advanced?). Can you only volunteer obo a particular organisation if you have done their training? What about working independently?

God, so many questions. Just come and tell me everything you know and help me through the confusion. Is there anything else I need to consider?

Final question, would living somewhere quite remote (Highlands) with, apparently, very very few b/f counsellors affect what training, if any, I could get?

Maybe let them know privately that it's not very clear and could put people off training, then?? :)

I will contact them, yes. Thanks.

I'd love to be a bf counciller in the future - is it an actual paying job? I always thought they were vaulenters but as you can prob tell by my spelling I'm not the sharpest tool in the box! How would I even start enquiring about this? I'm in yorkshire area, I have a woman who rings and text's me every few weeks she's my bf counciller but I've never met her she just got passed my details from the hospital.

pinky, if you read this thread you'll see a lot of info to help you.

Usually, and mostly, breastfeeding counselling is voluntary though there are a few paid aspects.

I suspect the lady who contacts you is a peer supporter - breastfeeding counsellors don't usually work in the way you describe.

Go for it :)

Hi Gaelicsheep- great news that you're going ahead with your peer support training.

Who did you decide to go with in the end? (don't say if you don't want, I'm just nosy interested.)

I've done three sessions of a six week course, organised through our local PCT and run at the Surestart centre.

It's been great and I've been very reassured that the teacher is clued up as she has talked about biological nurturing and 'baby-led feeding'. I've realised how much mumsnet has taught me over the last year or so about bfing- I have to rein myself in a bit in the class as I want to talk about it the whole time. (and who wants to listen to the class swot rabbitting on!)

I did come acrossthese job vacancies the other day. They are for paid peer supporters- OK, they are in Lancaster and Blackpool, so a bit of a commute for us, but interesting to see that they do come up.

La leche league, my cousin is a BF counsellor at baby cafes. i would like to do the same :)

Thanks for all the info. I'm considering doing this too if DD and I get to 6 months. Glad to hear exclusivity isn't required - would be mad if it were as I think the issues we've had would be helpful.

Thanks for all the info here. This is something I'm considering too.

My aunt trained as a bf counsellor with the NCT, probably about 16 years back. She's now a paid infant feeding coordinator at an NHS hospital, & still doing NCT work.