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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Want to train as a bf supporter - am I being silly?

30 replies

CherryChoc · 19/02/2009 19:23

I have been inspired by posts on here and elsewhere - by being angry at the level of "support" most women seem to experience when they are experiencing difficulty with breastfeeding - to want to do something to help.

Is it completely ridiculous for me to want to train as a bf supporter? My DS is 4 and a half months and I haven't really had any big problems feeding him but I know that mainly my success is attributed to spending far too long on internet forums discussing breastfeeding and just knowing what to expect - and knowing there was someone I could call if I did need any help. I am quite young as well - I was 19 when I became pregnant, 20 now, but I look younger and everyone seemed surprised when I said I was planning to breastfeed. My DP and his family have not been very supportive of my decision, not because they are hostile towards it, just because they are not familiar with bf.

I would love to in particular support young mums who want to breastfeed - a friend of mine who was 18 when her baby was born wanted to but had problems in hospital and the midwives made her feel awful when she switched to formula, without even seeming to offer any helpful advice on how to persevere with bf. Her DS did get the small amount of colostrum she managed to express (I was so proud of her for insisting!)

So I was just wondering if anyone has trained as a bf supporter, and how much it costs, how much experience you have to have etc. We haven't got a lot of spare money at the moment but it's something I really want to do. Also, once you are trained, how does it work, and would I be able to take my DS with me as I don't think I can afford to do voluntary work if I would have to pay out for childcare.

OP posts:

thisisyesterday · 19/02/2009 19:32

it really depends on exactly what you want to do.
train as a peer supporter, or as a breastfeeding counsellor?

most people ask you to have had a minimum of 6 months bf-ing, 9 months for LLL.
take a look at websites for LLL, ABM and NCT they'll all have info on how it works.

the peer supporter courses are usually around 10 weeks-ish.
if you ahve a local breastfeeding cafe/support group you may be able to get info there. ours is always trying to sign people up to do the peer supporter course.

if you want to become a full breastfeeding counsellor the course usually takes around 2-3 years to complete, and you get a diploma at the end of it.

I am certain that anywhere you trained with and agreed to work for woiuld be more than happy with you taking your son, esp if it's in a kind of breastfeeding cafe environment
obv as a BFC you may find it hard to stay focussed and listen and counsel whilst keeping an eye on your child, but depending who you train with and what kind of work you agree to do once trained you could work round that.
ie, ABM work purely over the phone, so you can do that from home.
people liek LLL or NCT who do home visits do make it clear that their BFC's are normally mums and that if you request a visit you may have to wait until it is convenient for the BFC, (ie, when your partner or whoever can look after baby for you)

thisisyesterday · 19/02/2009 19:33

oh, forgot to say I know that with the LLL and NCT they will cover the cost of your training, and you are then expected to work for them for a set amount of time afterwards. you would have to contact your local branch though and see if there is a need for more supporters in your area and if so whether they will fund you

LoveaDAISYcal · 19/02/2009 19:41

Not ridiculous at all. I looked into it last year and did a peer supporter course run through the ABM and have all the paperwork for their mother supporter module. I have also approached the NCT and was meant to go to a tutorial last September but was heavily pregnant so put it off till next year. DS is now nearly four months and I'm thinking I need to get on with it all again.

First thing you should do is contact the appropriate oranisations; NCT, LLL, ABM BfN. There is usually information on their websites regarding training and how it works and a contact form.

You could also have a look at your health centre for posters from local peer supporter groups like bosom buddies or breast buddies, or talk to whoever runs the local baby cafe.

It's great that you are thinking of doing this at a such a young age, as you will have oodles of years support in you. Also, it will give other young mums confidence to be able to BF if their local BFC is a young mum herself.

Good on you

tiktok · 19/02/2009 19:54

Go for it, cherrychoc

I'd suggest a peer supporter course if they run in your area, as they are quick, and it gives you a chance to see if this sort of work is for you.

You can then go on to become a full bfc with one of the volunteer organisations after that - they require a greater commitment in time and effort, has to be said, so it's not something you'd take on lightly, which is why a peer supporter course is a useful start.

thisisyesterday · 19/02/2009 19:56

also, to add... most places want you to do the peer supporter course before you do the BFC course anyway, so, as tiktok says that gives you the opportunity to give it a go first

SnowlightMcKenzie · 19/02/2009 20:07

Are you kidding?

These organisations are crying out for people like you!!

Agree that you should go down the peer supporter route first and then gain a little experience to see if it is really something you'd like to do more of.

MiniMarmite · 19/02/2009 20:08

Good for you cherrychoc - I felt exactly the same this morning after reading the post about media view of bf...the fact that you've decided to do something about it is great (I'm still procrastinating).

SnowlightMcKenzie · 19/02/2009 20:10

BTW my peer supporter training let me bring my baby and my toddler. After all, if you can't take demand bf children to the training then I think someone somewhere is missing the point.

whyker · 19/02/2009 20:39

I am also thinking about doing the peer support training! I am currently bf dd who is nearly 9 months and after a tricky start we are still going strong which I am overjoyed about! I really want to help other mums get through the early stages and the problems and help them to have the confidence to bf and enjoy it. I was wondering about whether you can take your dc along to the training and thought it would be a bit odd if you couldn't as we are demand feeding. Glad it sounds like you can.

fabbiemamma · 19/02/2009 20:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

charmargot · 19/02/2009 20:46

Do it! I'm sure the training is free. If you're not a middle class earth Mother type (sorry to stereotype, I bf mine, but hated militant bf women!) then people who'd be more inclined to bottle feed would feel more comfy with you.

whyker · 19/02/2009 20:56

fabbiemamma - why would I have a thing about breasts because I am bf?

girlandboy · 19/02/2009 20:59

fabbiemamma has made some very questionable posts this evening!

Ignore!

OP - go for it! You will be much in demand.

LoveaDAISYcal · 19/02/2009 21:08

I've reported fabbiemamas post.

Having done the peer supporter training, i would say that anyone thinking about it should go for it. you have nothing to lose and your local BFing mums have everything to gain

Original poster

CherryChoc · 19/02/2009 21:11

Thanks for all the support everyone! I think I want to just do the peer support bit for now, so will give the BfN a ring next week I think to ask them about it, there isn't much on the website.

OP posts:

TinkerBellesMumandFiFi2 · 20/02/2009 03:28

Go for it, like you say there is an appalling lack of support in this country.

I did the peer support course with my PCT got tonsillitis the week of the test and then got pregnant and as I'm high risk never managed to get around to the test. I wasn't that impressed with the course to be honest and I know that I wasn't the only one, so I'm hoping to do something different.

Does anyone know what the difference is between the different groups? Or is it more a case of choose one and go with them?

foxytocin · 20/02/2009 04:16

Oh what a sweet picture on your profile. Sniff.

My dd2 is the same age.

Go for it. Young mums will listen best to another young mum like yourself.

Wallace · 20/02/2009 06:53

Go for it! I think I will have a look too

Wallace · 21/02/2009 06:14

I googled beastfeeding peer support localy and found a very recent press release or NHS needing to recruit breastfeeding mothers for peer support groups. Outside my area, but still the same region.

I emailed them and the scheme is going to be rolled out across the region and also they are looking for people to do the ABM course paid for and with paid creche facilites!

foxytocin · 21/02/2009 07:56

Go for it Wallace!

Sassyfrassy · 21/02/2009 15:39

My local surestart centre are running peer support courses. I'm starting mine on monday, very excited. So it might be worth checking with them as well.

bogie · 21/02/2009 15:48

Cherrychoc you sound soo much like me!?
I am 21 (I look about 15 though) have a ds who is 3 and a dd 5 months I bf both of them and have been helping my sil and a few friends with bf because the feel they have no-one to talk to about it, I have thought about becoming a bf supporter but I always feel that people don't take me seriously because I look so young (I can't even buy lottery from the shop with out my passport) and the health visitors talk to me like I am a child so I never wanted to ask them about bf support because they just pee me off!

Grendle · 22/02/2009 00:55

Go for it , both of you!

foxytocin · 22/02/2009 07:34

yep, go for it bogie. lots of mums your own age will listen to you, as you are already finding out.

BTW, someone further down said the ABM only does phone support. they don't. they let mums decide how they can fit support into their lives so for some mums it may only be by phone but if they can do support groups, etc. they let them do that too. from time to time it involves visiting mums in their own homes too to observe a whole feed, etc. The ABM is deffo a great organisation to train with and be a part of, wink wink.

NotQuiteCockney · 22/02/2009 08:25

All these organisations are dying for young peer supporters, afaik.

I'm starting BFN peer supporter training in April - it's free, and there's a creche.

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