breastfeeding couselling

[queenofpuddings]

I am thinking of training to become a breastfeeding councillor and was wondering if anyone had trained with the BN network or the NCT and could share their experience.

I know LLL and ABM do it also but feel the BN or NCT might suit better

many thanks

Bumping for you.

I'm about half way through the NCT training which I think is the longest of the lot- it's a diploma course which I think you would be hard pushed to complete in less than two years. Before starting, I spoke to one of our local NCT BFCs and I know some of my fellow students have helped out at local drop ins to get a sense of what is involved.

thanks lizzytee

anyone else?

I'm about to start the BFN training. First you train as a supporter, which is a 12-week course, without a lot of extra work. Then you train as a BFC, which is a 17-week course, with lots of assignments.

All the training is free.

From what I know, though, all the training is roughly equivalent - I'd look into which organisation is offering training in your neighbourhood ...

NQC, hope you enjoy your course, however I have to beg to differ (in the friendliest possible manner ) regarding equivalence. It's not only the length of the course (although this is one aspect) but the main areas of focus - afaik there is a much bigger counselling component to the NCT course than the others. I'd stress that I am NOT saying that there is one bf support qualification that is better than the others, but that the different options offer different things- eg with a briefer qualification you can offer support to other mothers more quickly, the longer qualifications offer a wider range of things you can do with them.

thank you lizzyt and nqc, that has given me food for thought.

what made you both choose those organisations out of interest?

I chose my organisation because I know lots of BFN people locally. (Ok, I wouldn't be tempted by NCT because I've had some dealings with their head office - which obviously doesn't mean the training is no good!) So there are courses on offer nearby, and I know the people I'd be working with, at least locally.

Not sure if you've ruled out LLL from your OP but you might want to read about their course here

thanks bubblymum

My reasons.mmm. One of my goals was and still is to support parents of premature babies and I reasoned that the more academic the qualification the better if I was to make any headway, especially as I am not a HCP. I think that my best contacts locally were with NCT. I think also it's a question of which organisation your personal values fit with best....although I am finding this changes over time!