New breastfeeding helpline being launched!

[hunkermunker]

Government-sponsored and everything!

Please feel free to add comments on blog, btw

excellent news

Good! Wish it had been around 18 nths ago!

MF, it's a joint ABM and BFN thing - the info should be pretty good.

Momma, that was not the first thought that entered my head. Honest

I wondered that too, before I read the full details!

DO read the link - it's to my blog article about it

Good stuff.

I have read the link and think its a great idea I am la leche trained but have applied to Train with ABM I would love to volunteer with something like that

Just reading the comments on your blog, I want to clear something up. The DoH are providing the funding for the line itself. It is still being manned by volunteer counsellors from the ABM and BFN. The idea behind it is that there is just one number for mothers to access to get help. The number will be on all promotional material during national breastfeeding awareness week in May and also on literature given out to mothers during pregnancy etc.

As one of the counsellors on the line, I have to say the only calls I have had in the last few days since it has been up and running are from press and some health professionals checking it is working!

Ilana, please can you add that to the blog as a comment, if you don't mind?

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Thank you, Pruners! I just wish I had longer chunks of time to do it - every time I go to research something to write on there, I find reams of stuff that I could write more about.

There's so much fascinating stuff out there!

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Yep, very similar ballpark - well, just opposite ends of it, maybe. Or something!

Come on, MNers, this is good news!

It is good news, I agree

Great news. Let's hope it is well promoted.

Fingers crossed, CSWS!

Fantastic news, though it is a bit disturbing that " It is still being manned by volunteer counsellors from the ABM and BFN."

As the number of trained counsellors in the ABM/BFN are fairly low (I thought I read around 100 wonderful ladies on those two charities lines) and the numbers of mothers needing breastfeeding support are in the tens of thousands. Surely they are going to be quickly overrun by calls they can't respond to. Or is that the point to prove how much support is needed out there.

Anyway definately a good move in a good direction. All the best to the ABM/BFN counsellors

Very very good news hooray!

BE, not sure what the plans are for more training or paying bf counsellors - be interesting to find out a bit more about the mechanics of it, given they are saying the new helpline will be able to handle a far greater volume of calls than at present.