Has a breastfeeding counsellor made a difference for you or your baby? Would you like them to get some recognition?

[RowanMumsnet]

Hello,

The Association of Breastfeeding Mothers has set up a prize to recognise breastfeeding counsellors who go the extra mile for babies and new parents. Named Pam's Prize, after the ABM's leader Pam Lacey (who died in November 2010), the aim is to celebrate the life of an inspirational breastfeeding advocate, and recognise those who share her values.

Breastfeeding counsellors answer calls to national helplines, run breastfeeding support groups, and visit families at home and in hospital. If you've had advice from a great counsellor - whether it was long-term day-to-day support, or a magic half-hour that transformed your experience of breastfeeding - the ABM wants to hear your stories and get your nominations for the prize.

Nominees can be La Leche League leaders, breastfeeding counsellors from the NCT or the ABM, or breastfeeding supporters from the Breastfeeding Network.

To nominate someone, please write up to 250 words about your nominee and how she helped you, and email it to [email protected], or send it to The Association of Breastfeeding Mothers, PO Box 207, Bridgwater, TA6 7YT before 1 March 2012. Visit the ABM's website for more details.

Thanks,
MNHQ

A cheery bump :)

Just nominated someone :).

Well done hecubasdaughter! Anyone else going to pitch in and say thanks to someone ? :)

I want to nominate an NCT counsellor but I don't know her name. I am not sure what I could do in that case.

See, mine would be the lovely lady I spoke to on the NCT line nearly 8 years ago (8 years ago! When did DD1 get that old? Not when I was looking...). It was 10 o'clock on a weekend night, and I wept buckets down the phone to her and she was soooo wonderful. She understood that I felt like I was failing my baby and that I was at the end of my tether and oh! just everything. I don't know her name, I didn't ask as I was too wrapped up in my own misery. She referred me to the local NCT bfeeding counsellor, who visited me at my home and was also very good, and identified the problem I was having feeding and sorted me out. But the lady on the phone, when I was so overwhelmed and exhausted, she was just the knees of the bees. If she were to read this, I'd like her to know that I would nominate her if I could, and that I bfed all my babies for over 10 months each and she was instrumental in making that happen.

can NHS staff be nominated? the HV who runs our local bfing drop-in is amazing, and I think she may have had NCT training, but am not sure. I'd love to nominate her if she's eligible?

ah, have just read the site properly and it says volunteers only. oh well.

Shame it's volunteers only, I have so much to thank my fabulous NHS counsellor for, she was just the best most lovely patient understanding positive woman it was my good fortune to come across, so if there's anywhere else I can nominate her for any kind of recognition let us know. I shall be going to her drop-in with some flowers when we finally wean.

Oh poledra I've just shed a wee tear...

I would like to nominate Caroline Bolton, ABM BFC. She is fantastic

i couldn't even nominate just one! lovely idea though

Send in a nomination, then twinklegreen. I doubt you'll be alone :)

Hello all,

I'll drop an email to the woman at the ABM and see whether she can answer some of your questions about nominations.

Please note that you can't nominate by posting on this thread alone - you do need to follow the links in the OP (sorry!)

MNHQ

Yes, it is just volunteers only, I'm afraid (I'm from the ABM). I know there are lots of fantastic paid supporters and health care professionals out there but this prize is specifically for those who primarily volunteer their time.
I know there are occasionally grey areas as some breastfeeding counsellors might be paid to do antenatal classes for example but the bulk of their support will happen as a volunteer. If you don't know a person's full name but just have a first name, organisation and perhaps rough location, the ABM is happy to help you try and track them down.

And Caroline Bolton is an absolute star. However she is on the ABM Central Committee and as someone who knew Pam very well, she will be a key part of our judging panel. So those judging won't be eligible - I'm so sorry.

But if any central committee members do get nominated, we will let them know they have been and that they have been valued and appreciated.

My nomination would have been for Caroline Bolton as well.

tambajam please let her know :)

NCT didn't want to know, but we rang bfn and a lady called Jan spoke to us and visited us at home to help transform the life of a very very sick NICU baby who spent her first week of life in a coma and was tube fed my milk but we were being told to abandon breastfeeding as i was so tired and in so so much pain. Baby (!) is now 18 months and still feeding on demand, she is mostly healthy and very happy, her first baby sign was milk!

With everything that went so so wrong for baby girl and for us, enabling breastfeeding gave us a chance at bonding and we have an amazing relationship. It felt like the only 'normal' thing I could do for her and Jan gave us that support, along with the truly amazing Kate who is no longer with us.

I should add that when baby girl has been readmitted to hospital or been unwell the one thing that gives her nutrition is my milk, she never refuses, and it gives her comfort too when she needs it most. I'm not sure if we would have healed had we not had that support in those very early days. Sorry for double post, I'm only just getting the hang of this iPad!

I would like to nominate, Sally who counsels at the Chiswick children's center under Hounslow council in London. She is brilliant!

Second Rosemary Taylor. She was brilliant for me.