Where do you get training to be a breastfeeding peer supporter?l

[ChairmumMiaow]

This is somthing I've though about a lot recently, having watched my ante-natal group drift over to formula and into early weaning through a lack of support and information. Now they've opened a childrens' centre really close to me and are looking to run a baby cafe or similar and I really want to be able to do something to help (my other local one is a good couple of miles and I don't drive)

I've had a good search online and can't see where to get this training. Any tips? This is something I really want to do, both for the struggling mums and babies, and to alleviate my own feelings of impotence with all this

abm

if you contact the nct they will give you details of how to train as a bf counsellor

Ask your HV or phone the bfing counsellor at your local mw unit (if you have one). I am starting my peer supporter training, which is run by the hospital, in 2 weeks. I really had to pester people to get on it though. A lot of the local hvs knew nothing about it, which I was pretty about!

I did the La Leche League peer support course at my local Sure Start Children's Centre.

I started going to the Baby Bistro sessions when my DS was about 10 weeks and met some lovely like-minded mums. Most of us did the LLL course together and really enjoyed it.

Call the Children's Centre, they may have something set up already.

I'm doing mine with an organisation called Breast Buddies. It was advertised in the last NCT branch magazine.

Suggest you contact one fo the BFing charities as they all run their own courses, or speak to the local baby cafe or Sure start group.

I saw a piece in a local parenting magazine asking for volunteers and it's run by the same women who do the breast-feeding clinic at our maternity unit.

I did my training at a surestart/children's centre for the Bf support group based there. Try going to your local children's centre if they hae a BF drop-in/group and speak t whoever runs it.

Thanks for the advice. I asked my HV today and she was really encouraging and said she thought I'd be great at it

They're changing their training program to do it in concert with a local uni so it is accredited, and she's going to get in touch when its all sorted, which is great.