Breastfeeding SOS.co.uk

[Bottles76]

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to let you all know about an amazing support service that really really helped keep me sane whilst i was struggling to get to grips with breastfeeding. (DS who's now 5m old). Have a look at www.breastfeedingsos.co.uk/index.htm

I was put in touch with Mandy who runs breastfeeding SOS by a friend. I actually live >150 miles away from where Mandy is based but she gave me desperately needed telephone support and came up with practical solutions where my health visitor and even local breastfeeding support group failed.

Breastfeeding is so so hard for some of us - my DS wouldn't latch properly, I had really awful cracked/fissured/painful nipples, i got mastitis twice and several blocked milk ducts and then nipple thrush from the antibiotics! I ended up exhausted from feeding and expressing and then to top it off DS developed reflux disease (now improved greatly on omeprazole under the care of local paeds team).

Mandy was awesome - she just got it. She understood about crazy swinging emotions postnatally and maternal guilt without me even saying anything. And she always had another plan or solution to try. Most importantly, whilst she truly believes in breastfeeding I didn't find her preachy or patronising (unlike the infant feeding specialist we were referred to). She's also so completely down to earth she accepts that for some people it can all become too much and a sane healthy mum is more important than persuing breastfeeding endlessly if its not working.

Anyway, I'll stop raving... I'm just so greatful to her for her care i wanted other people to know her services exist!

It is great tat you've found the support you needed but just wanted to point out that free bfing support and information is available from the nct, la Leche leage, association of Breastfeeding mothers or the Breastfeeding Network. If you google any of those, the bfing support information and phone numbers will come up. Association of bfing mothers also have a handy list of bfing support groups nationally.

I've had fab support like this from the postnatal clinic at the hospital, La Leche League face to face, and the breastfeeding network support phone line. All free.

Agree my local baby cafe, nct helpline, nct local BFC and national bfing helpline all helped me and all are free.

Wonder why she started charging after being an NCT BFC for so long

Glad you got the help you needed, OP. It sounds as though the woman you spoke to treated you very well. All the BFCs from voluntary organisations (NCT, LLL, ABM, BFN) are given the same training and can provide breastfeeding support for free.

Hi everyone! Yes of course there's lots of other free support out there and Mandy won't be for everyones needs. I guess it also depends where you live - i was often the only person at my local breastfeeding support group, the local la leche league consultant always made me feel completely inadequate because my son was mix fed formula and breast from the start (not from want or trying believe me!) and my health visitor only every seemed to tick boxes on a form then do nothing! She pretty much told me it was my fault when he was diagnosed as cows milk protein allergy! Its been pretty desperate at times and if even just one other person sees this and benefits from her knowledge it will be worth posting on mumsnet!

That's sad that you weren't happy with the support from other sources- did you give any feedback about it? I'm a breastfeeding supporter and it's only through feedback that we can improve what we do.

I'm glad things worked out well in the end. :)

bottles sorry that you didn't receive the support you felt you needed, did you give any feedback or try any of the free helplines?