Peer supporter training option

[catellington]

For those who were interested in peer supporter training a few weeks ago, and recommended ABM, I thought I'd add another option to the list which is Sure Start Breastmates....I'm starting training in Jan. Only heard about it by going to bf support group which I mistook for an ABM group, and chatting to the group organiser.

Ooh never heard of that one - where do you give support, once trained?

At the sure start centre I think, there is a once weekly support group.

I would also add La Leche League- I did a two year breastfeeding counsellor training course, including one to one tutoring and examinations- all course material, books and exams were free to me.

Awesome, mrsm! What do once trained? Do they arrange voluntary work for you?

That was meant to say, 'what do you do once trained'

I don't know about other organisations but as a La Leche League counsellor you are pretty autonomous. You are free to start groups, do home and hospital visits, apply for funding, train other counsellors, work within the NHS etc. As a registered leader LLL pay insurance for you ( although you do have to pay a small annual fee to head office- but you can apply for funding for that too).
LLL counsellors usually work together- in my area there were 4 of us and we would have regular strategy meetings, deciding on venues and locations of support groups for Mums, purchasing materials, grant applications etc.
During the 12 years I waorked actively I facilitated monthly breastfeeding support groups, some for babies and some for toddlers, I also ran a fortnighly support group at a Surestart Centre working with Health Visitors. I provided telephone support for Mums on the national LLL helpline, was privildeged to be a part of the steering group within the Scottish parliament which saw the Breastfeeding in Public Billl presented and enacted in Law, I provided telephone support to midwives at our local maternity hospital, sat on various commitees within the NHS discussing breastfeeding support strategy. I took tutor groups for undergraduate medics at the medical school. Surprisingly GPs in training only spend around six hours dedicated to learning about breastfeeding support in the whole of their training.. There were always lots of media requests too- newspapers and Radio stations wanting quotes or photos - especially during breastfeeding awareness week.

I enjoyed all aspects of breastfeeding support, the work was very rewarding,at the cutting edge dealing with Mums and babies at a critical time-seeing feeding problems being resolved and helping that to happen was a privilidge.
As a qualified volunteer you are pretty much free to carve your own niche.
I am not sure that this will apply to a peer supporter however. Some organisations would not allow you to worke independantly after ony a few days or weeks training.

I think breast mates is a local scheme to you
Our local children's centre trains peer supporters but not as part of any national scheme. I helped with the training (I'm a trainee bfc) but AFAIK they vary in quality.

poopooheadwillyfatface- who are you training with?

abm. They suit me, IYKWIM. I'm nearly finished with the training now. will be on the helplines once I'm done, which should be spring/summer.

That sounds great- do you have exams or assessment a the end? Are you connected to a local group?

I'm also an Hcp so entertaining vague notions of becoming an IBCLC one day but who knows
if only I was passionate about something that could make me money instead. Never mind

You are right about the money. I was paid for a few years working with NHS, but funding cuts stopped that. Unfortunately breastfeeding support is seen as non- essential by most authorities and funding has been slashed.

The peer supporters training ws a very basic over view. I tried to steer them towards the information and support side rather than 'advice' but it's challenging to really get the difference at PS level IMHO. I had a good relationship with the infant feeding coordinator so I offered to help. We have a new one now. Unfortunately they are not a bfc or similar but a mw with an interest in bf

I thought about applying for it tbh but it's less hands on (well off of course, no grab and shove here ) and more strategic than I would want in a job.

yy and local culture with the hvs is tricky. Lip service to baby friendly but IRL as long as the baby is getting fed somehow they aren't really bothered. and lots of casual undermining with good intentions

Being involved at a strategic level can be very rewarding, and you have the potential of effect larger numbers of women and babies than one to one counselling.
For me it was a balance-as long as I was able to run a few monthly groups dealing with real life siuations i was also happy to spend time in meeting rooms with local co-ordinators discussing strategy.

I know. I just don't fancy it I suppose. I have always hated delegating stuff to people who won't do it properly

I think I would just find it incredibly frustrating. How can you/we get people to stop recommending unnecessary top ups and controlled crying. Telling mums that 5/6month olds shouldn't need to feed over night. Encouraging mums to worry about weight when if they were following the guidelines the baby wouldn't have even been weighed ( not newborn, thrivong older babies who naturally bob around the charts rather than following a line exactly) maybe I'm just not patient enough

I don't know it's so much about delgating- I found it a really useful way to make NHS staff think a different way about breastfeeding support- and they were keen to learn.
Breastfeeding support has landed like a white elephant in the lap of the NHS.
Breastfeeding support at its best is not a medical issue, but left too late in can become just that.
In cultures where breastfeeding rates are high, support is given through family and naighbours- all expereinced themselves in knowing how easy breastfeeding can be. Tiny problems if caught early will not develop into big problems- a poor latch will be helped by a gentle nudge from a helpful older mother, in this country women will persevere for days or weeks intil she presents to her GP with bleeding nipples and a bad case of thrush.
Breastfeeding support at it's best is subtle, timely and prevents bigger problems.
I have been able to allow health professionals to see that point of view, and opened up the world of support a little more in my area.

Didn't see these replies over Christmas! I am also going to hopefully do the ABM mother supporter course as well as sure start , just sending my forms, as I can balance hours volunteering for both and that one could also be a route to the bfc training. I want to do it because I want to be involved in bf somehow and thought training as a peer supporter would be a good first step. But yes I agree it would be good to do something with wider reach too, in education / advocacy etc.

I also want to do the training because I often hear people say things I think are not right, or hear people struggling with bf, and I want to know how to help and handle those situations. At the moment I just say nothing for fear of hurting someone's feelings, but then if everyone is afraid to speak up then the family and neighbours support msmiggins talks of isn't there. - one of the people I am talking about is my neighbour and I feel bad I didn't know what to say to help. (She was told at the hospital she didn't have enough milk because the baby was too big at about 8.5 lb )