Breastfeeding counsellor

[otchayaniye]

This is going to sound a bit mad.

I am midway through my second pregnancy and still breastfeeding a 2-1/2 year old. Full-on demand feeding until 2 and now still about 2-3 times a day, although she tells me my supply has all but dried up (but that she doesn't mind, bless her)

Now. I still get slightly anxious that I may run into problems breastfeeding the second. Latching etc. Weight gain.

I know an easy time isn't guaranteed, so I want every possible support in place for reassurance and some one-on-one guidance if I do hit a roadblock.

I had my first abroad so am not au fait with the support in place in the UK. I will happily pay for someone to come to me as with two children and post section I'll be less keen/able to go to a group (although of course, I will if need be)

I will probably opt for a section, although my first caused no problems whatsoever and milk was in the second day. I had a real anxiety about weight. I was also advised and manhandled (divebombing etc) a bit which I think wasn't helpful.

Really would like to let the baby self-latch like I ended up doing with my first but I forgot how best to do it!

I also want to continue and tandem. I'm hoping my daughter might help the milk come in.

Also, will her feeding bring my milk back in earnest ahead of the birth?

A bit confused as midwife looked a bit surprised I was still feeding and said I should stop.

Support does vary depending whear you are in the UK. A lot of childrens centures have drop in groups and you can go along to these before you have your baby.

This is a usefull website to see where you can get support from
www.nhs.uk/Planners/breastfeeding/Pages/help-and-support.aspx

Like ours you may find supporter mum's who are tandem feeding. Your milk woun't come in before you have your baby as it's the hormones relaised during child birth that will help bring in your milk. But her feeding after will help bring it in.

Thanks, anyone know where I can get a list of 'private' breastfeeding experts? Basically anyone who will come over -- I guess I pay for that and I'm happy to do so.

Drop in centres, cafes, LLL, midwives and HVs, meets etc all good, but I'd like the backstop of some one-on-one reassurance and help in my own home if I need it.

I found even though it was costly, the $$$ I spent on a UK breastfeeding counsellor to come that day and check out my latch (was fine incidentally) when I lived abroad was well worth it.

I'm of course anticipating problems that haven't happened yet!

here you can search for local groups, many you can go to when pregnant.

La Leche especially will not bat an eyelid about feeding a two yr old while pregnant. You will be able to talk through a lot of your worries before your baby comes with women who have been there.

local NCT might have contact for private bf counsellors

Smashing. I don't mean private is best, btw. I think it's hit and miss sometimes finding people who can help the best.

Some midwives great, others less so. Ditto HVs. Some LLL have plenty of older toddlers feeding, others less so.

I'll try NCT.

I found ds1 incredibly helpful for engorgement. I had loads of milk which came in mid way through day2. He enjoyed the important job of just taking enough to relieve the pressure so that ds2 was able to latch on to a softer boob. Also, sometimes ds2 would be stuffed full but my breasts were still a bit engorged, so ds1 would save the day. It made him feel helpful I think

Tandemming also meant I didn't need to worry about what the heck ds1 was up to whilst I was feeding the baby.

First time round, we had a few problems and ds1's weight gain wasn't great. Second time, I had the opposite problem with oversupply, but I was able to nip any problems in the bud and we have had an easy time of it.

Is there a La Leche League group near you? You are likely to find women there with experience of tandem nursing. As you've already experienced, many HCPs are not clued up on the subject.

Good luck with it

cross post

thanks mawbroon, and everyone else.

You could look up a lactation consultant to come and see you. See here for their website

Or pay for a doula who would support you postnatally in many different ways as well as some breastfeeding support.

Or you could google biological nurturing and see how you go initially and then call someone in if you run in to probs.

Whatever route you choose, make sure they are qualified (lactation consultants have to do many, many hours of practice and an exam to get the title) and have current knowledge. There are a few out there who claim to be breastfeeding counsellors but aren't in fact qualified and the information is poor and out of date. (Naming no names here )

Smashing, thank you. Just what I wanted.

I don't expect to run into problems and my first was easy (although the shock of how often and how long she fed was another story, as was my anxiety unfounded really over her weight). But you never know.

Generally, in the UK, private BF supporters are not as good as ones from any of the four organisations (LLL/ABM/BfN/NCT). (IMO) I find this website good for finding local support.

You can get home visits from some volunteer counsellors, but it depends on how good the support is in your area.

In my borough, actually, new mums are guaranteed home visits by paid BF workers, if they want them.

If you really want to go private, then you want a board-certified lactation consultant. Any other private counsellor is, effectively, just a random person who's decided to hang a shingle. No guarantees of competance or professionalism.

Ooh, yes, badger's got a great idea - some doulas are IBCLCs, and then you could have help, generally, post-section.