Breastfeeding Peer support course

[GodisaDj]

I have been notified of a BF Peer support course in my area and they specifically want people from where I live (in the City centre, near the Health Centre) and have asked me to sign up (which I'm taking as a compliment).

If anyone has been on this type of course, what did you think?

Were you called upon to support others, or just be 'there' in a voluntary capacity when at BF cafe's etc?

I suppose I'm wondering if I undertake the course, what will be 'role' afterwards.

Thanks in advance

I've done a peer supporter course. I really enjoyed it, and am just waiting on getting some paperwork through before I can start 'supporting'. Peer supporters are mums who have breastfed themselves, who have had some training to help with some basic problems mums might have, but our training also included thinking about our boundaries, and when we would need to refer on to someone else (perhaps a BFC or HCP).

Where I live, the only formal thing peer supporters currently do is helping at the support groups, but it's worth finding out what the opportunities are where you are. We actually looked at this (v briefly) as part of our course, and in other areas of the country peer supporters might go into hospital and visit postnatal wards, or give new mums a visit at home, or be available to be phoned by mums with questions, etc.

I am a bfps and I volunteer at my local children's centre twice a week (just the morning not the whole day!), once with the 10 day check MW discharge and once with the Well Baby Clinic with the HV, I help out at bfing drop-in group on the other side of town at their children's centre and once a month I volunteer at the parentcraft workshops (aka ante-natal classes).

Basically at the local children's centre I play with my children and chat with any mums and am available in case the HV/MW need me to speak to a mum or if a mum wants to speak to me. I get to coo over a lot of babies Some weeks I speak to a few mums about bfing and some weeks I might get one (pretty low bfing rates round here).

I am hoping to volunteer at the 'local' maternity unit (about 45mins on the bus away) but that may not happen for a while as I am expecting DC4 so not sure I want to be travelling in the evening/night on a bus!

It might sound like I do a fair bit but I am training to be a BFC so want to get as much experience with mothers and babies as poss before qualifying and launched onto the helplines

It really does depend on what you want to do and how much you want to do. If there is an opportunity go for it, if there is something missing from your local area, suggest it to the trainer/bfing lead and see what they say, you may find yourself in the thick of it!

I'm starting the course at the end of the month and I can't wait.

When I asked about what kind of commitment was required I was told 2 hours a week for 12 months. Hopefully I will find out a lot more at our first session.

I am a peer supporter. The course is really interesting and I would urge anyone to do it

I have had people referred to me as a kind of breastfeeding 'buddy' since I trained. This means we swap contact details and they can call me or text me or meet up with me for info and support.

The rule here is that you help out as much or as little as you can manage. The way they see it, anyone who does the course will pass on the correct breastfeeding info to friends and family this doing a service by dispelling common breastfeeding myths that are out there.

I usually go along to the drop on most Mondays to help out and chat to the other mums. I have helped run it a few times too.

There was talk of us being able to visit mothers at the local maternity unit to support them but this hasn't materialised yet. We do visit the local midwife run aqua natal class now and again to give out info packs about the drop in/buddy service and answer questions.

As a peer supporter I am expected to give info and facts but not advice as such. If ladies have problems that need further help we usually refer them on to the lactation consultant

thus doing a service
To the drop in

I'm just finishing a peer supporter course.

I found the course really interesting and just have to finish up the paperwork. My course was 8 weeks of two hour sessions, plus 2 or 3 hours homework each week.

When I'm fully finished and my CRB check comes through, I think I'll be helping with a midwife-run breastfeeding group, covering for the midwife when she can't run the group, providing support at a baby group at the children's centre, taking a turn on the phoneline, and promoting bf at a twins antenatal class.

Thanks everyone for your input and information. It's really useful and i appreciate you taking the time to reply.

There is a good support group where I am, run by the NHS but I think (and will check now) they're running the course so there are more volunteers at the cafe's which are held every day in different towns across the area.

The take up is better than what it was 3 years ago but is still low compared to UK average, in particular, it is common here not to continue bf'ing past 6 weeks.

For me, Bf'ing was difficult to begin with (dd had tongue tie then i got mastitis) but i got through it with support from the bf midwife, a peer support worker and my partner behind me. If there was a 'blip' from any one of those three people, I would have found it even more difficult (still don't think i would have stopped as was completely determined to suceed)

I suppose for me, i want to educate myself and pass that information on but I'm conscious that I'd be dealing with people from different backgrounds (mum didn't bf, why should I), ages and culture.

Thanks again