.... but I don't WANT to talk about "the benefits of breastfeeding" .... anyone else here who has set up a support group and felt they were being pressured into box ticking?

[ReverseThePolarity]

With two other Peer Supporters we're setting up an antenatal support / information group at our local SureStart Children's Centre. Well, not just antenatal - it's for women who are ttc or even thinking of ttc.

We wanted to have a few themes - one week we are going to talk about early days with a newborn (even mentioning breast crawl / biological nurturing - so excited!!!!) including hand expression etc., the next week about getting out and about (clothes to wear should you feel a bit about bf in public, finding a good bra etc - practical things), another week we are going to discuss slings and things like that... another week about common problems and where to go for support etc. The rest of the session would be Q&As from the Mums to be. Very informal.

What we really didn't want to do was have a discussion about "the benefits of breastfeeding". Or feel like we were trying to "sell" breastfeeding to women.

But the Children's Centre wants us to include something about the benefits in our sessions.

I feel like there's a box somewhere marked "increase breastfeeding initiation rates" and we have to tick it.

Whereas okay don't get me wrong it would be nice if more women started out breastfeeding... but really what we would like is for more women who already do start breastfeeding... but stop in the first six weeks before they wanted to... to keep breastfeeding for as long as they want.

Has anyone else started off a group and felt pressured like this?

Aside from the fact we don't feel we should be "selling" breastfeeding, I also have thoughts about the "benefits of breastfeeding" along the Diane Wiessinger lines (bf is biologically normal for our species - like breathing is biologically normal - and we don't talk about the benefits of breathing... do we?)

I'm sure you will mention benefits in passing anyway without any need to have a specific session. just tell the centre you will talking very poa=sitively and the benefits will be covered in a more casual way. it will prob come up during q and a.

I think you are right that bf is normal, and you don't need to do the hard sell.

But where is the harm in increasing bf initiation rates and helping those who already start to continue? Plus a reminder of the benefits might help those who are finding it hard going, as it will remind them why the struggles they might be having are worth it.

isaidno, yes I agree it will just come up in normal conversation why bf is "a good thing".

Can'tsleep... it's just that I actually feel like "selling the benefits" can sometimes turn people off. Your eyes glaze over and it's a bit like you're back at school, when the "just say no" lectures made you really fancy a spliff!

Hmmmm. Would it satisfy them if you gave out/had available some leaflets on the benefits instead? Or a big poster with that 'normal is a scary word' thing that hunker linked the other day?

You could just have the nhs leaflets available there which include that for people to take away with them as they will be handed it by their midwife/HV anyway then you don't have to mention it school style. lol at the spliff comment.

Interestingly, the DoH has realised that increasing initiation rates is less important than helping mothers to continue bf. I was at a meeting with them lsat week where they actually said this. Their focus for National Breastfeeding Awareness Week is something about everyday of breastfeeding being important.

I am assuming that your group and the children's centre is funded in some way by the DoH and therefore must follow its policies (again, something pointed out by them at the meeting - anything funded by them must be in line with current policies).

So, as they are now saying that continuation is very important rather than just initiation, perhaps you could show how the talks you are doing are more likely to help with that.

Also, if you want a session covering the benefits without it being too in their face, you could watch a dvd and then have a discussion. There is a new dvd coming out during NBAW that is free to HP and breatsfeeding supporters to use and give to pregnant women that is being funded by the DoH though not actually made by them. It is partly a how -to guide, but also very much covering the topics you talked about above and the benefits.

In theory, I do agree with all you said, particularly DIane WIessingers's article about the language of breastfeeding. However, unless youa re funding this group yourself, I think you will have to find a way to make it fit the DoH policies.

"Myths about breastfeeding" might be a more useful topic, especially in terms of helping mothers to continue bf. So many people seem to stop because they've been convinced of something that is just not true.

Ilanak ... yes you are right, we are not funding this group ourselves (although funding is pretty thin on the ground anyway and we're not really costing them very much!) it is funded by SureStart & local council so yes we do have to do what they say.... interesting what you say about DoH recognising that initiation is not the be-all and end-all though!

PortandLemon - we're going to have a chat about myths when we talk about barriers to bf. Obviously we do have to be careful; we can't talk about medications and what are and aren't suitable for bf, for example (we are not medically trained - we are not BFC's either, we're there to provide Mum to Mum support) and we have to be careful regarding the information we give out on alcohol & bf for example.

But we're going to mention that they can always have a second opinion from a bf-friendly doctor about medications prescribed, for example.