Quick Survey on BreastFeeding - Please Take A Look :-)

[Lact8]

I have written and re-written this post and keep deleting as sometimes dicussing breastfeeding on here seems to offend or some say makes them feel guilty about the choices they made about feeding their babies and that's not what I'm trying to do at all.

Basically I want to pick MN's collective brain on what services would support women who want to breastfeed (I'm part of a group of local mums who are working with HV and Surestart to provide support to other mums and possibly information at antenatal stage too)

So

1. Were you advised of or did you attend any groups about breastfeeding while you were pregnant? If yes,do you feel this was useful to you when you started breastfeeding? If no, was this because they weren't available/appeal to you?

1. If you breastfed, did you need support? Who did you contact? Family? HV? LLL? MN? Other? What would've helped you the most?

1. Who was available at the hospital after the birth of your baby to provide support with starting breastfeeding? Would you want specific breastfeedng counsellors available?

1. Have you attended any Baby and Toddler Groups that are specifically aimed at breastfeeding mums? What are your experiences?

Many thanks for taking the time to read this and any replies would be most welcome

1. NCT antenatal classes provided a link into local BF support group. NHS antenatal classes didn't mention it at any of the sessions I went to. Having been along with a bump and broken the ice made it 100x easier to go back when DD was born as knew where to go and that people were friendly. Would have been hesitant to try something completely new while feeling very raw and unsure of myself postpartum.
2. Definitely needed support even though Mum massively pro-BF and DH backed me 100%. Gave birth in local midwife-led maternity unit and stayed 4 days. Mixed experience of midwife assistance with feeding - on the 3rd day a lady was fantastic and sat with me for an hour offering suggestions about how to improve the latch but most just gave a cursory glance and said it was fine, despite my intense pain. Have since discovered BF is an optional topic (one of 3) so not surprising some are so unsure how to help new mums. Ridiculous! An assistant nurse taught me how to feed lying down at night - brilliant! HV knew less than I did. BF support group and wonderful counsellors helped a lot in person, on the phone and by lending me books (esp "Bestfeeding" Renfrew, Fisher et al and the NCT books). A library of BF help books at the hospital would have been very useful - can't think why they haven't got one. Pamphlets are inadequate.
3. Covered above. A dedicated BF counsellor would be fantastic or at least some proper training for ALL the midwives.
4. Yes, luckily my home town has a great group. Just talking things over with others in the same situation helps you clarify things in your own mind and gives you the lift you need to keep going as well as offering practical tips to try.

1. Brief talk at antenatal class but not much use. Got some helpful info before DS was born on MN and kellymom (recommended by MN - thanks!)

1. Yes, needed support even though pretty OK for us. MN and also LLL phone helpline. Mostly to reassure me that all was normal

1. Help from mw, though mostly nodding and 'yes, looks fine' when I could have done with some more detailed advice

1. No. Have never had any probs with bfing in public though.

1. I didn't attend any groups, dd came too early!

1. I felt that I did need support but it was difficult because dd was very small and prem and was tube fed at first at home. She needed some low birth weight formula and I found it difficult to establish breastfeeding. I think that some more support when I was at home would have been helpful but my community midwife didn't really want to get involved because dd was still being seen by the nurses from SCBU. The SCBU nurses were didn't really give me much advice, I think they thought I knew it all because I'm a doctor! I had tried to express when she was in hospital but found it very frustrating and didn't ever manage to express much. In the end I was happy with my compromise to mix feed dd though I do think that if I had the misfortune ro have the same circumstances again that I would try harder to exclusively bf in the end.

1. The midwifes looking after me in hospital were great in encouraging me to express as soon as I was able, I was very ill after dd was born. I don't think that specific breastfeeding counsellors would have added much more to my care.

4.I did attend a specific group but breastfeeding wasn't really discussed! I actually felt that at times there was a bit of sniping between the other mums that made me feel uncomfortable.

1.Went to BF workshop at hospital (midwife, video, chat) before birth. Only 2 hours but v. helpful.
2.Midwives, although 1st time not v helpful (luckily managed despite this). With 2nd, midwives very helpful (this time needed it) especially one who'd just returned to work after mat.leave.

1. Midwives. Yes, ideally. They had them at the hospital, but not available on the days I was there!
2. Attended one with !st baby, with midwives present. Although didn't need support then, nice to know was available. Best thing for me was meeting other breastfeeding mums. Breastpads on the arms of chairs looked like coasters!

Good luck with what you're doing.

1.Went to BF workshop at hospital (midwife, video, chat) before birth. Only 2 hours but v. helpful.
2.Midwives, although 1st time not v helpful (luckily managed despite this). With 2nd, midwives very helpful (this time needed it) especially one who'd just returned to work after mat.leave.

1. Midwives. Yes, ideally. They had them at the hospital, but not available on the days I was there!
2. Attended one with !st baby, with midwives present. Although didn't need support then, nice to know was available. Best thing for me was meeting other breastfeeding mums. Breastpads on the arms of chairs looked like coasters!

Good luck with what you're doing.

1. My NCT class had one session with a breast feeding counsellor. She talked us through positioning etc. It was useful although she spent so long going on about how difficult we may find bf at first that it was quite disspiriting.

1. I was very lucky as I had no problems breast feeding. The midwives gave me some advice in the delivery room and DD just seemed to know what to do.

1. The midwives gave a bit of help with the first feed. It would have been helpful to have some more support right st the beginning.

1. I have not heard of any Baby and Toddler Groups that are specifically aimed at breastfeeding mums.

1.No I didnt attend any groups, didnt know they existed.

1. Yes i did need support, went to local drop in group. Found a leaflet in GP surgery.

3.nobody, no support at all. 4.no

1. Were you advised of or did you attend any groups about breastfeeding while you were pregnant? ....yes given some info about b/feeding groups but not partic encouraged to go

1. If you breastfed, did you need support? Who did you contact? Family? HV? LLL? MN? Other? What would've helped you the most? ...didn't need support but was lucky that baby took to it easily. Would have contacted HV first if needed

1. Who was available at the hospital after the birth of your baby to provide support with starting breastfeeding? Would you want specific breastfeedng counsellors available? Would have liked specific bf counsellor although certain midwives were very helpful in hospital. As I had a C-section I was in for 4 days so had contact with midwives at a crucial time

1. Have you attended any Baby and Toddler Groups that are specifically aimed at breastfeeding mums? What are your experiences? Didn't know they existed

1. Did not attend ante natal classes or groups at all. I read Dr Spock and Desmond Morris.
2. I could have done with some privacy...mum asking me how my nipples were in front of 20 odd people was a real low point. I really just thought that everybody except teenage mums bf. Looking back a bit more one to one with somebody who had done it would have helped.
3. Nobody at hospital, but I left as soon as possible.
4. No because I know the woman who runs it and cannot stand her, doesn't really appeal anyway.

dd1 bf until 19 months dd2 still bf at 12 mths not thinking of stopping.

1.Didn't know they existed during pregnancy (in 2002 for DD or in 2005 for DS).Would have been useful once I'd started feeding.
2.Did need quite a lot of support for both DCs - HV/MW/family becuase of recurrent mastitis. Would have been good if I'd have know about mumsnet then for support.
3.After DD1, midwives were fab - one say with me for 45 mins at night and held her head in correct place so she could latch on properly. After DS2, nobody even came into my room all night until 7am - we could have lying there dead for all they knew!!! BF counsellors after the birth would have been great!
4.haven't been to any baby groups for BF mums - went to normal ones and people there fed so wasn't an issue. Would have been good for more specific advice/chats though.

1. No groups attended whilst pg.

1. I breastfed. My independent midwife visited me every day after the births of all my babies for two weeks, then twice a week for another two, and helped me get feeding established. She put a great deal of effort into helping me 'perfect' positioning, and teaching me about how to build up supply. She encouraged me to feed on demand. God love 'er!

1. I gave birth at home. See above. But in general, yes I do think specific BF counsellors are a good idea for women.

1. No sepcialist groups attended.

Good luck with your research lact8.

1. Attended ante natal classes whilst pregnant with ds1 and a specific one for breast feeding.

1. Midwives helped mainly, friends had little experience breast feeding. attended breastfriends support group too

1. midwives were there after the birth providing some support with breastfeeding

1. I attended the breastfriends support group for a short period both times with DS1 then with DS2.

Breastfed DS1 for 15 weeks, still breastfeeding DS2 whos 7mths.

1. didnt attend - didnt know where to look.

1. I didnt need support but attended LLL as i saw a local newspaper ad and was curious for tips etc.

1. MW , no specific counsellors.

1. B & T groups locally are not exclusive or aimed at breastfeeding mums bar LLL meet ups.

1. Our ante-natal class covered breastfeeding and it was kind of useful but I had to find my own way of doing it comfortably.

1. Hell, yeah I needed support. I nearly gave up on most days. Luckily I have a friend who is a maternity nurse and, between her and the Baby Whisperer book, I finally managed to enjoy breastfeeding.

1. Nobody at the hospital came near me while I was in the post natal ward, so I had to muddle through on my own. I was relieved when I got home and had a family member help me out.

1. No.

1. Were you advised of or did you attend any groups about breastfeeding while you were pregnant? If yes,do you feel this was useful to you when you started breastfeeding? If no, was this because they weren't available/appeal to you?

Didn't hear about any groups. Was told the basics about b/f at the local hospital's ant-natal classes.

1. If you breastfed, did you need support? Who did you contact? Family? HV? LLL? MN? Other? What would've helped you the most?

I used the NCT's telephone helpline and spoke to a b/f counsellor. My HV was also incredibly helpful and encouraging.

1. Who was available at the hospital after the birth of your baby to provide support with starting breastfeeding? Would you want specific breastfeedng counsellors available?

Some midwives were helpful and gave good advice others weren't useful.

1. Have you attended any Baby and Toddler Groups that are specifically aimed at breastfeeding mums? What are your experiences?

NO.

1. My ante-natal classes included breast-feeding which was useful - although my sisters had bf 5 dcs between them and I felt I learnt as much from their advice/experiences.

1. With dd1 just a little confidence boost which my community midwife and younger sister (who was bf'ing dc3 at the time) were happy to give.

With dd2 needed loads of support - she had a tied tongue, severe reflux and a URTI in the early weeks and gained weight v slowly (1-2oz per week for first 9 weeks). I contacted the local NCT bf councellors who were fantastic and my HV was hugely supportive (pro-bf and offered loads of encouragement, despite v slow weight gain - never suggesting topping up, always reminding me of the benefits of bf).

1. n/a - home straight after dd1 and dd2 home delivery.

1. No

1. Were you advised of or did you attend any groups about breastfeeding while you were pregnant? If yes,do you feel this was useful to you when you started breastfeeding? If no, was this because they weren't available/appeal to you?

No, was not advised of any. Was advised of their existence on leaving hospital.

1. If you breastfed, did you need support? Yes. Who did you contact? Child nr 1: HV who was an accredited BF counsellor and ran the BF support group. Child nr 2: BF group.

What would've helped you the most? With child 2, a BF counsellor that didn't cost me anything to use, within walking distance.

1. Who was available at the hospital after the birth of your baby to provide support with starting breastfeeding? Midwives who knew less about BF than I did, and I didn't know much. Would you want specific breastfeedng counsellors available? Yes Yes Yes.

1. Have you attended any Baby and Toddler Groups that are specifically aimed at breastfeeding mums? What are your experiences? No. Simply have not come across them ever.

1. It was discussed by a mw at ante natal group i went to with my first pregnancy. Not very useful as it didn't explain it in detail enough - just the benefits of it

1. yes, used NCT advisor at local birth centre

1. mw's were a bit too hands on, grabbing breast and pushing baby on to it. Had more help from the care assistants. Pretty much left to it and had to ask

1. no

1. Were you advised of or did you attend any groups about breastfeeding while you were pregnant? If yes,do you feel this was useful to you when you started breastfeeding? If no, was this because they weren't available/appeal to you?

WEREN'T ADVISED OF ANY. DID ONE SESSION ON FEEDING AT ANTE NATAL CLASSES

1. If you breastfed, did you need support? Who did you contact? Family? HV? LLL? MN? Other? What would've helped you the most?

HV FROM A NEIGHBOURING VILLAGE WHO RUNS A BFING SUPPORT GROUP

1. Who was available at the hospital after the birth of your baby to provide support with starting breastfeeding? Would you want specific breastfeedng counsellors available?

MV AND ANXILLARY STAFF GENERALLY WERE HELPFUL - HAD C-SECTION BOTH TIMES SO NEEDED THEM TO HELP ME PHYSICALLY QUITE A BIT
I DIDN'T NEED ANYTHING MORE SPECIFIC

1. Have you attended any Baby and Toddler Groups that are specifically aimed at breastfeeding mums? What are your experiences?

YES, ATTENDED SAME GROUP THREE YEARS APART. FIRST TIME WAS HELPFUL & SUPPORTIVE; SECOND TIME WAS SAME PLUS MADE V GOOD FRIENDS WITH A GROUP OF MUMS AND DID THE PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM TOGETHER.

1. No for all 3 pregnancies. First time round (1999) information on this was not widely available. I did go to a support group afterwards but it was really when everything was OK. I volunteered to attend a group when I had 2nd baby to share my experiences. 3rd time round feel confident but just don't have time to help out although may still do so.

1. I breastfed all 3 (still feeding 3rd one) 2nd and 3rd easy. First was very difficult. Didn't contact anyone, just got over it myself. I didn't know much about support and the health visitor didn't offer any phone no's or names of agencies. 2nd time I was OK but I did notice better support in the hospital.

1. First time just the midwives helped (although didn't really have much time to do so properly and I got inappropriate advice). A specific counsellor would have been great.

1. No - don't think there are any groups like this. Most of them in our area are for pregnant/new mums.

1. no , none were available and i wish they had been. no one told me how tough it could be
2. i badly needed support. midwife was good, but not enough time. another midwife was total breast feeding nazi and made me feel guilty for even considering stopping

3.student midwife sent to help me express as baby not feeding. not much help. midwifery assistant helped that night and was fab. wish i could have talen her home! would have loved a counsellor.

1. no

why is breast feeding so encouraged, but no support there when you need it?

1. Were you advised of or did you attend any groups about breastfeeding while you were pregnant? If yes,do you feel this was useful to you when you started breastfeeding? If no, was this because they weren't available/appeal to you?

• was not made aware of any groups during pregnancy

1. If you breastfed, did you need support? Who did you contact? Family? HV? LLL? MN? Other? What would've helped you the most?

• HV was great and came around quite a few times when i was worried about latching on etc., surestart groups were great as lots of other mums breastfed too !, i did'nt realise that breastfeeding was so popular.

1. Who was available at the hospital after the birth of your baby to provide support with starting breastfeeding? Would you want specific breastfeedng counsellors available?

• the staff at the Lincoln County seems quite short when asked any questions and just semed to leave me too it, that first night was terrible, baby creied all night and was having trouble getting DD to latch on.

1. Have you attended any Baby and Toddler Groups that are specifically aimed at breastfeeding mums? What are your experiences?

• No yet, although i am aware that there is a breatfeeding cafe at local surestart on a friday lunch time.

HTH

1. Were you advised of or did you attend any groups about breastfeeding while you were pregnant? If yes,do you feel this was useful to you when you started breastfeeding? If no, was this because they weren't available/appeal to you?

I wasn't informed of any group

1. If you breastfed, did you need support? Who did you contact? Family? HV? LLL? MN? Other? What would've helped you the most?

I didn't breastfeed, but MN was supportive when I wanted to bf my dd. Even then, it didn't happen !!

1. Who was available at the hospital after the birth of your baby to provide support with starting breastfeeding? Would you want specific breastfeedng counsellors available?

After ds was born, mw were very positive about me trying bf, but when ds went to neonatal, it stopped. With dd, I ff straight away

1. Have you attended any Baby and Toddler Groups that are specifically aimed at breastfeeding mums? What are your experiences?

there are not many groups in the area anyway, let alone aimed at bf mums

UPDATE

WOW again! What a fantastic response to this thread - Thanks to everyone who has replied.

Weellll, We've had the meeting.

7 local midwives were invited so that we could arrange the antenatal support and not one of them turned up! Very [angry} as we needed the go ahead from them to set everything in place but mostly as it seems from our own experiences and the replies on here that it would be helpful to expectant mums.

My HV (fab!) has said that we should go ahead snyway and get ourselves prepared to do it and she will arrange a room at the GP's for when antenatal appointments are on.

We live in a very small village that is not considered 'deprived enough' to qualify for any of the funding that is available to some of the surrounding areas so our next project is to look for what funding we can arrange for ourselves.

On a positive note, the peer support counsellors, who cover the whole borough, will be getting our own webpage!!

And they have also arranged a new telephone system for anyone wanting to contact us so we can keep a record of who calls,no of calls, etc. and also to ensure that there is always someone available to take calls.

So we've got some things in place but not near as much as we would've liked but then I have no patience and I knew I'd come away feeling frustrated.

Any suggestions of who we could look to for funding would be welcomed!

Thanks again to everyone