Becoming private breastfeeding counsellor - what do you think?

[Iwillorderthefood]

Hi, I have three children, one of whom I could not breastfeed, so I expressed for 6 months. I had very little useful advice, and paid a counsellor to come in to help me. She was expensive and not very helpful. I fed my second one for 9.5 months after a very rocky start, and I'm still feeding my 3 year old, again after a very rocky start.

I would like your opinions on my business idea, which is to train as a breast feeding counsellor. I laid £100 for a single session with a woman who it turned out had never even fed a baby. I propose to charge a lot less than that, to ensure that anyone who is struggling could have me visit them in their homes more than once, without the cost being stressful. Is this a good idea or absolutely terrible?

I hope that I can use my experience, make a little money to prop up our income and help people along the way. I am not a bf evangelist at all as I have bottle fed all of my childrn at some point.

Please tell me what you think. I am going to check back later today. Thank you for your views.

Have you considered becoming an NCT breastfeeding peer supporter first to see how you like it/how it goes?

Have you looked into the cost of the training? I think the NCT course is now degree level (with degree level prices).

no, NCT peer supporter isn't degree level. It's training volunteers.

I'm wasn't talking about peer supporter training. I was talking about bf counsellor training.

I am at the very start of looking. I looked to see this, this morning, so I'm aware of it. I suppose one of the questions for me would be if the demand would be there if I did the training. I'd love to provide support, but sadly not in a position to give it for free.

The advantage of the NCT training is that then you can do bf classes, baby cafe, helpline, etc (but pay rates much lower than in your OP, about £20ph I think). Private clients on top who pay a lot more. Some govt. funded stuff still available.

Fees look like they're about £8k currently though which is a big outlay up front. There's some scope for student loans (and you can get a 70% bursary in some circumstances).

I think La Leche League and ABM also do bf counsellor training which might be less expensive but maybe harder to get work later?

I expect most bf counsellor training providers will have wanted you to do some peer supporting first though.

What kind of area of you live in?

I think the main problem you might face is the help that is available now. When I had a nightmare with ds I saw the mw every day, an infant feeding specialist (at the hospital), called LLL (they had peer supporters who would come to your home)called nct, saw gp (for some cracks which mw thought might be infected)and went to 'booby buddies' (ridiculous name btu very helpful-bf cafe). He was tt and needed it snipping. Tbh in the end my sister taught me how to bf. I wouldn't have paid £200 for a private bf specialist, sorry!

I know a lot is written on mn about the shocking bf support but I don't think it's universally bad everywhere. I had some contradictory advice but there was no lack of it.

I think if you're servicing the London/SE area, you'd probably find demand.

The only people I know who actually make a full time living from being a breastfeeding counsellor or private lactation consultant are in London. There just isn't the money elsewhere.

You could make money but would have to be properly qualified. At least to be a Board Certified Lactation Consultant.

LLL and NCT do great 2 year courses, but even those are not enough to support your endeavours.
You will also need insurance - to cover you for unfortunate events. You won't get that without qualifications.

Being able to breastfeed does not make you an expert.

And I speak as a qualified breastfeeding counsellor and lactation consultant.

I didn't know paying for breast feeding support was a thing.
I'm live in a big city and there is so much support out there for free, I could go to loads of breast feeding support groups for free every day and the one I go to they offer to home visit for free. They even give out their personal mobile numbers for you to contact them whenever you need help.
Maybe the support isn't the same countrywide though....