Breastfeeding helplines

[gaelicsheep]

I have just made my first call to a breastfeeding helpline. Being interested in training as a bfc myself I thought I'd try a helpline this time rather than MN (teething baby giving me blisters). I was concerned to find I received no reply from not one, but two helplines - the ABM one and the National Breastfeeding Helpline. I finally got through to a counsellor on the NCT one after hanging on for ages.

This is making me rethink how I make my decision on who to apply to. On the one hand perhaps the ABM/BfN would benefit from more people to man the helplines. But on the other I'm conscious of how I would have felt if I'd been phoning in more desperate times as a new mum. I doubt I'd have pereservered tbh. I'm also confused as I thougt an unanswered call would divert to the next closest person rather than a recorded message.

I guess I'm interested to know if this is an isolated experience, perhaps because there are very few bfc's anywhere close to me. Or have others found the same and how did you react?

Both times I've called a helpline, it's been answered.

The first time, it was a Friday afternoon before a bank holiday weekend, and the call did seem to get diverted multiple times before finally being answered. That call was to the National Breastfeeding helpline (the other was to the NCT) but as I remember, I ended up talking to a lovely lady from the ABM, so I think there is some crossover between the NB and ABM helplines.

Yes, the NBH is run by the ABM and the BfN iirc.

i rang nct from london and got someone in scotland. as I needed face to face help this was not ideal. was saved by bfn.

Am not sure of your point but ABM is run by volunteers who are giving up their time, often whilst their young DC's are at home with them. They need to do things like go on the school run and stuff. What are you suggesting?

Both times I've called one they've been answered. First time, about 6 years ago, I called the NCT Helpline and got answered straightaway. Called the National Bfing Line last summer and was put to a very lovely ABM Counsellor.

Peppa don't know about ABM but I thought that NCT got paid for the time they were on call. Obviously will be at home with DC but didn't think they popped out, could be wrong though.

gaelic forgot to say I'm thinking of starting too. If you are interested in the NCT course the applications to start in May have to be in by 30 Jan. If you want to start in September then I think you have to apply by May, there is more info here

I've called 3 times (NBH) - once wasn't answered but it was at about 6.30pm so everyone probably doing tea and bedtime

Here's how it works.

NCT's breastfeeding line: in the main, calls are answered by a 'duty counsellor' who is paid a small amount to sit by the phone and do nothing else but take calls or answer messages. There is a limit to the shift she can do (2 or it might be 3 hours, can't remember). If you call the NCT line you will either get answered straight away, or you will be able to leave a message and you should get a call back within a very short time (except at busy periods, within a hour). Very occasionally, there is a glitch - technical, or where the mother leaves an incorrect phone no. Nothing we can do then. We call back once, sometimes twice - if you are out at the call back or do not pick up, then we do not persist. The vast majority of callers do get a response from us.

All the other helplines rely on a cousellor being at home and able to answer calls. I think this is the case. I don't think there is a message service. Of course you can try again.

Face to face help can be arranged with the NCT breastfeeding line - the bfc can refer you to someone closer if you think this would help. But in large areas of the country there is no one within 50 or 100 mls. The other difficulty that there are very few NCT breastfeeding counsellors in London - your experience, fishie.

You may well have to hang on to the NCT line for a while - I think it is currently 19 seconds - in order to route the call.

You're asking for the impossible, gaelicsheep - a quickly answered call and/or else a quick routing of the call round the country, as if these small (sometimes very small) charities and volunteers could manage to do better than IKEA or Lloyds Bank or DVLC (all of whom tend to keep one hanging on a lot longer!) or a vast call centre. Instead, of course, they are mothers in their own homes doing it, in the main, for nothing at all, or in the case of NCT a very small honorarium.

ABM do not get paid.

Peppa - it goes without saying that I'm well aware that the helplines are all run by generous volunteers who can't always get to the phone for very good reasons. That wasn't my point at all. It is simply that I was wondering/worrying about the effect on people in a very vulnerable state when they phone a helpline, or two, or maybe three and get an answerphone message each time. The NBH diverted three times and ended up with a generic BT Answer "no one available to take your call". I have seen it said before that if you're really desperate you should get your partner to call first, and now I see why.

I don't know the answer at all Tiktok. And I should add that I have no idea of the technology behind the routing of calls etc. etc. I suppose this just makde me think about how many people who might be wanting help are put off from ever trying again. And if I train I would want to make sure that I could help as many people as possible, not have them put off calling by having tried before and got a recorded message.

Anyhow, the NCT counsellor I spoke to in the end was very helpful, managed to speak to me despite my crying DD in the background (as ever), and gave me some good tips to consider. Please don't anyone think I'm complaining, I'm simply thinking out loud I suppose.

I meant to say thanks JiltedJohnsJulie. This is my problem you see. I'm not sure the NCT is for me. For one thing there is no active local branch which would seem to complicate things as they stipulate you need to volunteer with them, promote branch activities, etc. The website also states there is no branch funding available in this area - it isn't clear if that means I'd need to raise the £4,400 myself or what. I need to ask, I guess.

I was thinking seriously about doing the ABM's course as I think their approach and requirements would fit me better. Which is why I was disappointed that it was their helpline and the NBH that weren't answered. I suppose I'm worried whether helplines run by such a small number of volunteers are actually a sustainable thing. My understanding of the time slot arrangement was that if I, for example, was doing weekday evenings then I'd need to have someone else on hand to take over bath/bed if the phone rang.

Anyhow, I was mostly interested to hear other experiences to see if my experience today is typical or not.

That explains it better . Not the helplines fault though - the government should actually fund some breastfeeding support!

PM me if you like

gaelic - the NCT helpline has been going for 11 years. It is sustainable, I promise!

All the charities have helplines which have run for many years - I think the BfN's has been going for 12 or 13.

The National line has funding from the government, and of course that might mean when the money runs out, it ceases to operate.

I don't think any of them, singly or together, meets anything like the potential need, of course. All the vol orgs tailor their publicity and promotion to what they can manage - I mean, if a TV ad went out with the numbers on every night at 7 pm, everyone would be swamped.

Most breastfeeding counsellors from all the organisations do work outside the telephone lines, anyway - it's only a part of their work.

Ask more questions about funding for the NCT training - you might be given more help. If there is no branch to volunteer with, then you'd be supported to do other stuff.

gaelic could there be grants available. If there is no local branch, could HQ put you in touch with the Regional Representative or give you advice themselves?

Incidently, my friend moved half way through her training from our branch which is active, but not very, to a remote area in Wales with a branch that is virtually no existent and I think she doesn't have to pay herself but I'm not sure how she's managed it.