How do I find someone in RL who I can trust for advice with breastfeeding.

[belindarose]

Lots of great, reassuring support on here, but I do need someone to observe a full feed and have time to help.

We have a number of different difficulties (which might be unrelated although I'm suspecting tongue tie now), some of which I've been advised on by Tiktok and other knowledgeable people on here. Midwives are lovely but I'm unsure of their advice (all 3 I've seen since being home have said to only offer one breast per feed, or in the space of an hour, for example). I've been to a support group, which was nice, but they were clearly only knowledgeable about common difficulties.

I need someone who will know about the particular difficulties I have. Where do I find them? How much will they cost??

You need to see a lactation consultant as they are professionals in this field whereas midwives don't get a lot of training in breastfeeding. My local sure start centre has a bf support which is regularly attended by the LC and I know she also helps women who have been referred to her by the midwives. Perhaps ask midwives if there is a LC who they can refer you to or google search for one in your area that you can use privately. No idea about cost I'm afraid.

You might find that the NCT BF councillors work in your area - would be worth contacting the local NCT branch to find out. I don't think that they would require to you be a member, but I'm not sure - and membership is not too expensive.

A breastfeeding peer supporter might be able to help - in our area, we operate from children's centres. Have you got a children's centre nearby? You could give them a call and see if they can help.

Peer supporters aren't breastfeeding councillors, but may be able to offer the support and advice you need.

NCT, The Breast Feeding Network and La Leche League run sessions up and down the country. I'm on mobile so can't link, but their websites will allow you to search for local groups.

Posts like this make me despair. Women are constantly being encouraged to breastfeed, but health visitors and midwives don't do enough to promote local support groups. It wouldn't take much to pop a flyer in your red book.

I second a support group at a surestart centre but one run by a mw trained in bf support - big difference to "just" being a mw, iyswim. At our local one, the mw will actually snip tongue tie there and then, if found, and this is a massive help. Can you travel a bit further to find one?

When I had DS1 I lived in London and I paid a whopping £125 for an hour (yes, 1 hour) to see a LC. I was completely desperate! It did really help. I also saw her a couple of weeks later for free as she also offered her services through the local GP surgery, but there was a waiting list for that and I just couldn't wait 2 weeks initially. So I found her through the GP, but an online search will also find private LCs.

BfN, LLL and Nct are all good.

BfN are free, so are LLL, not sure about Nct.

There is no need to pay for this service.

Who ran the group you went to, do you know?

I was referred by my HV to a health trainer that specialised in bf. she came to my house and had a long chat with me, observed DS feeding, gave me loads of advice. She was by far the most knowledgable and helpful HCP I met (most were helpful, but couldn't provide the care I needed) and she phoned every week for about a month afterwards, just to check that all was well.

So I'd see if your trust has something similar in your area.

It was a sure start group run by a breastfeeding counsellor and a peer supporter.

I breastfed DD for 20 months but had amazing support for the first 6 months from the fantastic bf clinic in Oxford. We've moved away since. I'll look up the groups already mentioned, but had already tried during pregnancy and couldn't find anything locally. Nearest LLL group is 30 miles away.

Aw, it is such a lottery, isn't it?

Fair play to you for keeping going.

I really hope you can get some kid of decent help soon.

Have the helplines been any good at all?

NCT is free and you don't need to be a member.

But they are not everywhere.

Call the helpline and ask.

Find your nearest Lactation Consultant here and tongue-tie specialists here.