I'm considering training as a breastfeeding counsellor/supporter...

[PrettyCandles]

...but wondering with which organisation should I train and practice? Any thoughts or experiences?

Hi there. I'm currently training with the ABM. I chose them because you can do the whole thing by distance learning - when i researched the NCT training, it involved a whole day each month, and at that time I really didn't want to do anything which involved me having to use childcare. I'm really enjoying the course - I'm nearly half way through. It's quite technical and fairly challenging - you're sent a module to complete with a deadline on it. There's a lot of support to be had on-line and you're assigned a mentor too (though you don't have to fag for them, unlike some networks). The only thing that concerns me is that there are no practical sessions, but then again I'm pretty sure there are workshops within the ABM that could rectify that.
After you 've completed your training, you commit to working on the helpline for at least two years.

This is interesting

Bumping this for you for some more experiences - sounds interesting.

FromGirders - NCT course is a tutorial (2 - 2.5 hours) each month, not a whole day, unless the tutorials are once every 2 mths, in which case they would last maybe 4 - 5 hours.

Very interesting indeed! Have now emailed the ABM.

LLL are worth looking into - they are very family centred & you are not pressured into doing anything that you dont want to do & can study at completely your own pace...in fact its not strictly called a "course" by them at all....more of a process which you go through & you dont start being a bfc (or "leader") until you feel you are ready.

Thanks tiktok, not the info I was given from someone on the course at the time though! Whether that was supposed to be a shorter tutorial which stretched because that was what people on the course actually wanted I don't know, or perhaps it was the perception of the person on the course, and a bit of an exaggeration. . .
In either case, i bow as always () to your superior knowledge, seeing as how you are actually a NCT bfc!!

Actually, considering where we live, it probably included travelling time . . .

i am a volunteer breastfeeding supporter - a breastfriend - with my local surestart . i did a 6 week (one session a week) course and will approx. once a month be at the weekly breastfeeding group , attend the baby weighing clinic , talk at antenatal classes and be available on the phone if anyone has any breastfeeding problems. I have enjoyed this a lot and as i really don't have a lot of spare time to give this suits me fine . I really wanted to share my good experiences of breastfeeding my kids and help other mum's enjoy this time too.

Thanks for your inputs. I shall of course contact the various organisations and get their info, but wondered whether there are any advantages/disadvantages to any of them, or whether anyone particularly liked a course or their work.

I know of NCT, ABM, BFN, LLL - are there any others?

Do you have to have breastfed for a certain amount of time in order to train?

6m, AFAIK.

I trained through Surestart as well, and it is amazing how people remember you helping them. I went to a new mums and tots the other day, and the lady who runs it recognised me as the peron who helped her when her son was a week old, and he is now 3!

Bristols,

LLL usually want you to have bf for 9 months minimum for their leader process....but they do state that they are willing to consider those who havent done so.

does that mean bf one child for 9 months, or can it be bf one child for 6, and a second for 4? This sounds really interesting.

This page should help re LLL

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I have the impression that LLL are more 'militant' about exclusive breastfeeding than some of the other organisations? I just get the impression that they are even more earth-mothery, lentil-weaving than, say, NCT.