why does nobody know about breastfeeding at baby clinic?!?

[canmummy]

I know this is probably common but I went to baby clinic today because I'm feeling hugely stressed about breastfeeding and feel like I needed some support/advice.

So get called in (with another mum as they do babies 2 at a time), lo gets weighed, red book given back to me then 2 hv's start chatting to each other about what their son's have been up to at school this week

At this point in the past I've usually just dashed out feeling I'm wasting their time (why ffs when it's their job but that's how welcoming they come across).

So today, I took a deep breath and butted in "Can I ask you something about breastfeeding" - the hv that I aimed the question at cast a worried glance at the other one. By now realising that I've made a mistake asking here because they know fa about breastfeeding. "We've got a breadtfeeding expert next door" - so GO GET HER THEN! I feel like shouting but as they promised me she'd ring me when she was 4 weeks old and she's now 10 months old and I haven't heard I don't hold out much hope

So briefly explained my worries and my problems, and the answer was she looks happy enough I'm sure everything's ok.

So leave more or less in tears with no help or support - I'm never going to baby clinic again

(ok rant over - I feel better for that already!)

sorry you had a crap time at the clinic.

What are you worried about?

That sounds like a frustrating conversation.
But they obviously have a person there specifically to deal with bf issues, wont you go and see her?

I'm concerned I can't express enough to feed her while she's at nursery 2 days a week but then when she's there she'll sometimes only drink 1-2 oz. She's under a dietician who thinks she's not getting enough (as we only have the 2 days of ebm to judge it by).

The "breastfeeding expert" I don't even know who she is or how you get to see her. The room next door to baby clinic today was the immunisation room so I'm guessing it's a health visitor with a special interest in breastfeeding

Grrrr for you

Have you tried LLL or NCT breastfeeding lines? Or is there a drop in bf centre anywhere near you?

If it's any consolation, my DD does this too. She will take ebm from my DH, but not from anyone else, but I'm only talking about leaving her for a few hours every now and again, not twice a week all day, so it isn't really an issue for us or her as such.

I'm sure there is someone who can help with this on here, maybe post a new thread with the problem as the title?

I'm also pretty sure there was some information about this sort of thing on Kellymom.

Is there a babycafe near you? the one near me always has a trained BF counsellor on duty.

I never know where to go locally because I do think that would be ideal. I've never been given any info on a drop-in cafe so have just assumed there isn't one

Canmummy,how awful for you.
It's shit isn't it??
How do these people live with themselves.

At 10 months my baby went quite happily all day without EBM or formula (which I wouldn't have given anyway). She fed on demand at all other times and we carried on for 30 mths.

I wonder what the dietician is on about.
Any more details for us?

My DS was 11 months (so a little older) when I went back to work 2 days a week. I didn't express and he was happy with food and cup of water.

Your HVs do sound pretty poor