Has anyone seen an IBCLC?

[SheIsStuck23]

And did you find it worthwhile?

And most importantly - how much did it cost? 😬

My cousin’s wife is really struggling with breastfeeding her 12 day old baby and I want to suggest going to see an IBCLC but I don’t know if it’s financially worth it or whether breast feeding support groups are just as good?

She has tried to get some help from her community midwife but she said it’s difficult to get a chance to see her or even talk to her sometimes.

She lives near Warwickshire, I don’t know if the pricing are different based on which part of the country you’re from 🤷‍♀️

Thank you.

My DS is 13 days old now and we have been battling for feeding help from the start due to a severe tongue tie.

I live in a different area of the country but have found my community midwife team to be absolutely awful and have today made over 20 attempts to contact them with no success.

I have found the national breastfeeding helpline brilliant and La Leche League have gone above and beyond.

My issues are no where near resolved but La Leche League and my local "Latch On" group have been superb. My sons tongue tie is being cut on Friday and I have been informed that there is no feeding support available to me following this - LLL have arranged someone to give hands on support that afternoon and the Local Latch on group have been able to refer me to the infant feeding team as well.

Best of luck - I know how demoralising this is x

IBCLC help is priceless.

If she will struggle with cost then try and find a breastfeeding cafe or breastfeeding support group in her area. These are usually lead by an IBCLC.

I saw one, I think it was £90 or £100 although there were a few cheaper, around £75. This is in the southwest. It included the consultation and follow up email and phone call. We needed extra sessions, I think the third visit was free.

Yes that IBCLC does volunteer at breastfeeding groups but the individual at home support was invaluable because she helped with latch and especially positioning in my home environment (there were a few difficulties and triple feeding so it was a fraught time). Helping with positioning in the chair or bed I would be using helped me and DH was able to watch for future reference/to help me.
We had got one of those mirrors for the car so you can see the car seat, I used that to check my own positioning, it was easier to see it reflected.

If the cost is prohibitive some might charge less but it is a very bespoke individualised service with lots of training. Mine also weighed the baby and I found out does breastfeeding courses for pregnant women.

Definitely check out local breastfeeding support, I did go to a group prior to getting the IBCLC involved. The group I went to wasn’t great (they were giving out outdated advice compared to what I found on NHS/ La Leche League/ Kellymom) but after that I made a point of going to different drop in groups and some are great.

I should have said yes it was worth it as still breastfeeding into toddlerhood (determined to get value for money for the initial outlay on advice!) but still roll my eyes when one of the benefits of breastfeeding is listed as being free, I spent quite a lot on IBCLC, pump (only used in first few weeks when the baby wasn’t gaining weight), supplements, nipple shields, nursing bras, but it was worth it for the eventual convenience, the benefits to my baby and me, plus I really wanted to breastfeed after a very long wait to become a mum.

Yes. They absolutely saved our breastfeeding relationship. I think every woman should have access to IBCLC if she wants. It’s night and day to what was available at the hospital.

i honestly don’t remember the cost it was so long ago. I had private health insurance that covered some of it.

Oh wanted to add that mine was with a group practice. They do a breastfeeding course for while you are pregnant. I felt really good after the course.

when we ran into trouble in those first days, the relationship was already established and we knew exactly who to call. That was really helpful when scared and sleep deprived.

even if women don’t take a course, I really recommend researching this ahead of the birth.

Yes, I paid £150 for the first consultation (2hrs) and £100 for follow up appointments (all at home).

They didn’t really tell or show me anything I couldn’t find online but it was reassuring and helped boost my confidence. We have a local (charity run) breastfeeding group that’s just as good,