"Best" IBCLC training?

[organiccarrotcake]

I'm considering ABM and NCT but has anyone got any advice or experience at all?

Thanks :)

Oh, and, at least with the BfN, trainees are obliged to sign a form saying that they will not charge people for the information they gain on the course. I am not sure what the BfN would do about someone who did that.

Sorry I am stumbling in on your threads and I will admit that I have skimmed through rather than reading thoroughly but I just wanted to clarify something. I did the Mother Supporter module with ABM but decided not to complete the whole counsellor training as I don't like the distance learning aspect.
I have just, as in today, signed all of the paperwork with my newly assigned tutor to do the NCT bfc diploma.
NO students are expected to pay the £4400 fee, they cover 100% of the fees as they do not expect students to pay to train for an outcome of a voluntary role.
I guess they put the gumph in the packs in case someone is fortunate enough to be able to pay or contribute to the fees.

Sorry if I am repeating what you lovelies have already said

That's good feedback Claireamy- thanks.
Interesting too that they will let you do the bfc course having previously done the supporter course via another organisation (in their fact sheets they say you can't do this.)

Good luck with your studies anyway.

I'm a student BFC with NCT, so a few more points to add:

• As Claireamy says, students don't pay the fee unless they want to! But I think that many of us cover our own expenses for books etc.

• I believe the NCT now gives priority to applicants from regions with a shortage of BFCs. Not sure how this works in practice, though.

• The brilliant thing about NCT is its wide reach. Once qualified, you would expect to do some combination of (a) one-to-one counselling with local women and on the NCT breastfeeding telephone line, plus (b) delivering antenatal breastfeeding classes, which are paid. In areas with good relationships with the local NHS, there are also opportunities to help out in maternity wards and Children's Centres, sometimes as part of a commissioned service. It is worth talking to your local NCT people to see what work they do.

• You are studying for a Diploma - ie a recognised, degree-level academic qualification - so expect a commensurate level of study with lots of reading and written assignments.

• Finally, my experience of the training has been that it can seem frustratingly slow at first - especially if you're champing at the bit for practical experience. But actually, that's right. Taking your time means you slow down and become a bit more thoughtful about things, and thoughtful is good when you're trying to support breastfeeding mums. As a wise BFC once told me, "it's often the enthusiasts who do the most damage" !

Thanks theboobmeister - it's so good to have first hand experience of someone on the course.

Are you enjoying it?

theboobmeister - thanks from me too. What did you have to do to "show commitment" in order to get funding?

I'm puzzled that my area is not listed as having grant funding available, yet to my knowledge there are only 2 BFCs for a huge area of the country.

Crikey, I'm loving it! (Hey, did that sound like a 1940s McDonalds advert or what?) You get to read, think and talk about all manner of totally fascinating issues - and where else would you find so many fellow breastfeeding loons all together in one room? But have to be honest, I wouldn't have said that 6 months ago - it took me a while to 'get' what the NCT training is all about. You have to think "learning now, doing later". It is really worth persisting.

Gaelic it was a case of sheer bloody minded persistence, but apart from that the inner workings of the NCT are still a mystery to me ...

saw this and thought of this thread

"As a wise BFC once told me, "it's often the enthusiasts who do the most damage"!"

This worries me.

lol don't worry organiccarrotcake, just be aware that you might be an enthusiast and adjust accordingly. it is also the enthusiasts that work tirelessly for this cause and many won't be doing any damage at all!

:)

this is interesting - clarity on the LLL not allowed to campaign thing

4 years after this post was started and I am in a position where I am passionate about breastfeeding and looking into training. Interested to know what happened to everyone who commented on this. Which company (if any) did you all choose to train with as a breastfeeding counsellor? Has anyone made a wage from being a breastfeeding counsellor? Is anyone a lactation consultant? And do you have to be medically trained to be able to train as one?

following your request for an update Lily