I have to go on a training course to talk to prospective mums about BF'ing - why?

[Pennies]

I've BF'd DD1 for 10 months and am still going trong with DD2 at 6 months with no immediate intention to stop. So as I live in an area where the take up in BF'ing is quite low I said to my HV I would be happy to come and talk to prospective mums about the reality of BF'ing. She said that for me to do that I would have to go on a course.

I feel I've got quite a lot of "experience" for want of a better word - I've BF'd when ill, also had mastitis, fed DD1 whilst pregnant with DD2, yadayada etc - you know the score. But that's not the issue really I suppose.

I don't want to become a BF counsellor, nor am I hideously evangelical about BF'ing - I just want to share my experience and hopefully convince a few of the many young, inexperienced mums who will just go straight for the formula to give it a go.

Why do i need training??

So you can tell them to supplement with formula and wean at 16 weeks? Sorry, I don't know. I would have thought a peer rather than an expert would be an encouraging person for them to talk to so I hope you do get to pass on your experience.

Exactly what I thought beansprout. On both points! LOL

Pennies, I can understand your feelings about this. You want to share your experience, that's all....but you want to do more than that, I think. Your aim is 'to convince' people to try something. I don't think that's the best starting point, to be honest. Peer support training is short, and gives you some valuable insights into the experience of others and helps you set your own experience in context. You might enjoy doing it

Fair point tiktok though why isn't wanting to encourage people to give it a go not "the best starting point". Not sure I understand you on that?

I suppose I'm a bit frustrated that it's an(other) obstacle to something that should be so straight forward. I'm put off from doing it now because I'm not sure how I will be able to attend training as I've got my LO's to look after. I'll try and fit it in but DH may not be able to take time off work etc.

IMO I think your HV is wise to suggest that you have some training. If you do this - however informally- you may be talking to people who may be emotional/anxious/looking for the "right" answers, and you need to know how to handle that. If they are prepared to offer you training, that's great - look at it as an opportunity, don;t be put off.

as a teacher (albeit an irregular or even ex teacher) I suggest you take the training. talking about something to a group is scareee the first time without it.

it'll look really good on your cv too, for any kind of job.

A friend of mine has done that course and does those talks- shes taking me with her next month as I'm B-feeding and her boys grown out of it. shes a peer surporter and has been fab when another friend of mine was having isues with BF and wanting a bit of a morale boost.

My friend is a midwife and she asked me to talk to one of her ante-natal groups about bfing. I didn't actually do it, but I would not have needed training to just share an experience with a group.

Either your HV is being overly cautious (fearing legal action by a gang of anti-bfing, but fully trained, mothers), or she's trying to discourage you. Very strange.

Won't it just be stuff about active listening and the like?

i imagine it will include a bit of practice,hm. telling the class how to make a cup of tea or something like that and then talking about it. could be really useful.

Pennies, I'm doing some peer support training at the moment (an NHS project) and a lot of it is focused on the emotive issues in breastfeeding and how to be supportive without pushing your views etc. In my area it's a 3 day course (over 3 wks).

I have done peer support training. It is important that you do this so that you are sure of current best practice and the basic facts. A lot of it is listening skills and also de-briefing your own experiences.

The midwives can not just let anyone talk to their clients. You may be experienced and know the basic facts but they need to be sure that you are suitable. In my area you also have to undergo a CRB check.

I've done the La Leche Peer Counsellor course. They provided a creche for the older little one's and the babies stayed with the mums. It was very relaxed and nice to be in a room full of bfeeders. The first few weeks were a bit like MN, sharing horror stories of other people's reactions to feeding, describing why we enjoy bfeeding, the things that we've struggled with. Then you spend time looking at how the breast produces milk.

A lot of it is thinking about how you would react to different people. Not making judgments based upon, race, religion etc. Discussing how bfeeding could be a different experience for say a single mum with 3 children than it might be for a first time mum with a partner to support her.

I think they want to encourage mum's to do it as we're more approachable than professionals or , dare I say, better informed than HV's?

I'd definately say give it a go.

I passed mine about 6 weeks ago now and no one has contacted any of our group yet for support The number of mum's bfeeding is so low around here

Pennies,I did the ABM peer support training and it was great fun.
Traioning like this ensures we are all singing from the same hymn sheet.
I learnt a lot.

Pennies, you didn't say 'encourage'. You said 'convince'. Read your post!

As I said, not a good starting point. The training will help you hit the right note - go for it