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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Interested in becoming a BF supporter/counsellor

19 replies

lyndyloo · 24/04/2007 21:11

Anyone else done this? I have info from NCT which looks like a great course but fairly intensive and also 2 year long I think.

The BF Network does a course for women to act as supporters to other BF women and on their phoneline. Anyone done this one?

I am keen to support women who need this help. I got little help when I ran into problems but perservered and am still feeding at 10m.

Any advice?

OP posts:
bristols · 24/04/2007 21:13

You could ask your HV. I spoke to mine about it and she told me to get in touch with a local 'sure start' centre. Don't know if you have one of these locally but worth a go.

sniff · 24/04/2007 21:14

I am on a course at the moment to be a counsellor its 12 weeks to start with

Go to your local childrens centre or health visitor because by all account they are crying out for people who reallyare interested as the government are trying to raise the breastfeeding uptake rates and to prolong feeding after they are discharged from hospital

apparently some groups do phone lines some do ante natal visits or post natal groups it up to you

bristols · 24/04/2007 21:45

Sniff - are you still bf? I asked my HV all about it months ago and then didn't do anything about it but this thread has resurrected my interest. Am not bf anymore but did for 18 weeks. Do you think they'd still be interested?

magnolia1 · 24/04/2007 21:48

I really want o do his too. Am b/f ds1 at 20 weeks but have 4 other children I have had various ups and downs with. B/f councellors have been a god send so would like to give something back

magnolia1 · 24/04/2007 21:48

Sorry the t's on this keyboard are rubbish

bristols · 24/04/2007 21:49

Magnolia - am going to ring them tomorrow so I'll let you know what they say

terramum · 24/04/2007 21:56

Lots of Sure Starts do the LLL peer support course so worth asking if you have one in your area or nearby.....or you could look into becoming an LLL leader. This link has some info.

theUrbanDryad · 25/04/2007 08:33

i'm very interested in this too! let us know what happens, then we can be lazy and let you do all the research!!

Magnolia - how's it going?? are the problems with ds resolved now? how's his tongue tie? and have you deserted us on the Jan postnatal thread.....Carrot is getting married! today!

moretomorrow · 25/04/2007 13:44

the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers does a Support Mother qualification too. the work you do also counts towards teh first module of becoming a full B/F Counsellor if you decide later to do this.

visit their site at www.abm.me.uk for the email addy on getting further info.

tiktok · 25/04/2007 14:20

All the four vol orgs have a counsellor training which normally takes 2-3 years.

They all have a 'peer supporter' or 'peer counsellor' programme as well which takes (usually) about 12 weeks, but you need to find if something is on offer locally.

AFAIK, none of these shorter courses would qualify you to work on their phone lines, though. But local schemes may have a phone line.

sniff · 25/04/2007 18:08

yes they would you just have to have a happy bf experience

I am really enjoying it

sniff · 25/04/2007 18:10

we have a phone line but we can also go on to do more qualifications

its really interesting even if your not going to feed again like me dd is my last

MarsLady · 25/04/2007 18:11

You want to the Breastfeeding Network or the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers.

Go for it! We need all the (proper) Breastfeeding counsellors we can get!

bristols · 25/04/2007 19:33

Didn't have time to call today so will definitely do it tomorrow. Story of my life lately! Had a very positive bf experience but stopped sooner than I would have really liked. I reckon I could have easily continued with the right advice/support which is why I want to do it. Will keep you updated...

moretomorrow · 25/04/2007 20:42

bristols, i believe the organisations ask that you bf for 6 months before you are allowed to train. maybe someone else will come along and correct me?

Original poster
lyndyloo · 25/04/2007 20:53

Thanks - have e mailed the BFN and ABM as well as LLL and will wait and see what they can offer.

I can post their response if people want me to???

OP posts:
theUrbanDryad · 26/04/2007 09:31

yes pleasw lyndyloo!

sniff · 26/04/2007 12:45

yes please I would love to carry on with it

islandofsodor · 26/04/2007 22:30

You don't have to have had a positive b/f experience. I was encouraged to train as a peer supporter because I had such an awful time but somehow managed to get through it.

You just have to have breastfed for a certain amount of time. I do think it is essential not to have any issues though.

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