lactation consultant?

[StuckOnARollercoaster]

Hi, lots of posts about breastfeeding problems or questions suggest getting a lactation consultant/expert to watch a feed and check for tongue tie.
I've been to a breastfeeding group and La leche meeting and although the 'experts' at those sessions have watched I have a niggling suspicion they are not the experts being referred to - none has ever looked in DD's mouth.
So where do I find an elusive lactation consultant, is there a governing body/website and is there any way of doing it that won't cost an arm and a leg as money is a bit tight?

Where are you based? You find them through lcgb.org, but I searched for one for ages, trying to find a recommendation, asking my hospital, wanted one who could visit etc...eventually found expert help from an nct peer supporter who was really knowledgeable. She pointed me to a private breast feeding support group where I met a panel of experts for £20.

I found one through lactation boats website then researched her in the web. She did one home visit which she charged £80 and the 121 help i got was imbaluable she was then happy for me to go to her drop ins at 3 local sure start centres she volunteered at.

Ask your midwife - I went to one on midwife recommendation. Was free. She saw me that evening - she was a saint bathe also referred DS for his tongue tie snip. He had it fine 6 days later

Are you a member of NCT? I had a list from there but was too addled to look at it. The co distant I went to was also on NCT list

PM me if you're in cheshire and I can send details

Thanks - just on mobile while feeding but will follow up on your suggestions when Daisy has a nap. I'm on the outskirts of Manchester (west) and fall between 3 area boundaries - Salford, Bolton and Wigan!

Lady I went to is in Didsbury - Rosemary Taylor.

Her number is in the leaflet per this link

Please call her - she's amazing and will see you very quickly.

Shoulda said I am not an NCT member, but they helped me out with b/f support no questions asked. NHS were hopeless so hope you have a better experience than I did!

If you are considering a lactation consultant, it's wise to ensure they are an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant - that means they have supervision and are properly trained. Anybody can hang up a shingle as a 'lactation consultant'. This website has listings for all the IBCLCs in the UK.

I am not sure that they are necessarily better trained or informed than a good BFC from any of the four organisations that provide BF support (for free) in the UK. I do think that IBCLCs do tongue tie divisions, though, which, afaik, BFCs don't.

I looked at the IBCLC link - the north west only has 2. One in Cumbria and one in Carnforth.

It looks like all of the practitioners in the Wythenshawe Hospital link that I posted (provided by my midwife) aren't members. Neither were the 2 counsellors who helped me from the NCT

notquitecockney - how wide spread is membership?

La Leche tend to be slightly more informed about things like tongue tie but you might have to ask them explicitly to look for one.

Milk Matters are pretty good but I don't know how much they charge and can't remember exactly where they are based but have a feeling it is Oop North.

Notquitecockney they ARE better trained-they have a three year degree only in Lactation and have to log huge hours actively helping women to breast feed. That said, the peer supporter who helped me so much, was much less qualified on paper, but very experienced (and lovely too).

I don't know how wide-spread it is. They changed the prerequisites for taking the exam, in 2012. Now you have to be a medical professional (nurse, doctor, whatever) or have a relevant degree. Before that, you just needed to pass an exam, and have a number of hours of experience.

If you're getting help from someone from any of the four UK organisations (BFN/NCT/LLL/ABM), then don't worry about whether they have IBCLC qualifications - they are well-supervised and supported by their organisations, they will have ongoing learning, and there is an appropriate route for any complaints about their behaviour to be handled.

Rosemary Taylor saved my Breastfeeding relationship with my 7 week old daughter. We've had poor latch, 2 bouts of Thrush and blocked nipples and if it wasn't for her I wouldn't still be feeding my baby.

It does get better!

Victoria, you are mistaken about the quals for an IBCLC. There is no requirement for a degree in lactation (never heard of a degree in lactation) or a degree of any sort.

They do have to clock up a lot of hours in support of bf women and they take a demanding exam.

But no degree.

To clarify - they do have to have a healthcare related professional qual....not nec. a degree.

tiktok, that's only been the case since 2012. Before that, you needed a BFC sort of qualification, and needed to self-certify that you'd worked 1000 hours supporting women. And you needed to pass the exam.

Yes, I know, NQC...but there was always a distinction between people with non-HCP quals and (for example) LLL quals. You had to present evidence of more hours with non-HCP quals.

It's wrong to think that an IBCLC is always 'more' qualified than a breastfeeding counsellor. They are different.

Yes, it looks like quite a complicated set of rules, to qualify to take the exam. I gather the exam includes some odd requirements, too, like being able to guess a baby's age, from a photograph.