Lactation Consultant v Postpartum Doula for breastfeeding support?

[lucasmama08]

Hello

I'm expecting baby #2 (due April) and am considering my options regarding post-birth breastfeeding support.

I had terrible latch problems with #1 and, although I did find my local NHS bfing drop-in centre useful it was very busy and only ran twice a week. I also saw either my HV or MW about 5 times per week but, whilst both were very kind and understanding, they did give conflicting and sometimes confusing advice.

This time I want to be better prepared and was wondering how much a post-partum doula or lactation consultant would cost (we're not exactly made of money) and what sort of 'service' they each provide. What I need is someone who'll sit with me through as many of the early latches as possible to try and avoid pitfalls such as nipple damage.

Any thoughts or experiences to share? Pretty please

PN Doula is wonderful, and IMO, worth ebery penny. But they are not normally trained bfing supporters/counsellors. If you can only pay for one, and bfing concerns you that much, then go for the lactation consultant.

There are, however, plenty of free helpers around - you just need to look for them now, before you have the baby.

Sadly, the NHS help (ie HVs and midwives) is usually worse than useless, because bfing is such a tiny part of their training, and they may not have the time to dedicate to it in any case. You need to access help from the charities that support bfing.

In no particular order:
LLL
BfN
NCT
ABM

Together they cover most of the country. Alternatively, your HV should be able to give you a list of bfing support groups, though it may not be clear from the list who runs which.

Another good website:
How Breastfeeding Works.

If you decide to use a doula, make sure you choose one that has had breastfeeding training with one of the 4 main breastfeeding organisations. I know that some of our (ABM) counsellors are also doulas for instance. I am sure this is true with the other organisations. On the other hand, I have also met postnatal doulas who knew absolutely nothing about breastfeeding.

So just choose wisely.

dunno what happened to the links.

Trying again:

LLL
BfN
NCT
ABM

How Breastfeeding Works

You could go to a support group every day if you wanted, and many of them will accommodate a pre-schooler as well. These women are wonderful - really! - I 'used' them, and the helplines, with each baby.

Thanks so much for all the links PrettyCandles! I had no idea ABM existed or that NCT did so much regarding bfing. My budget is tiny to say the least so free support sounds pretty great to me! I did use the LLL helpline with my first and they were really helpful although there are limits to how much you can do over the phone or by email plus I had let things get to crisis point by the time I contacted them. There is a local LLL meeting in 2 weeks and I have plucked up the courage to put it in my diary! I still think I might need more hands on support for the first few days to a week but might feel differently after I've joined a few local bfing networks.

IlanaK - great advice, thank you. I do like the idea of a doula if I can get one with the right skills and experience as I'm presuming (maybe wrongly?) that I'll get more hours for my money and that, should things happen to go well with the bfing this time, I can use that time for other things such as help with DS (who'll be 18 months old) or housework.

I agree with what's been said already, and just wanted to add that if you find a trainee doula through DoulaUK, they're only allowed to charge £10 per hour, though they probably have a minimum number of hours. DoulaUK also has a hardship fund so you could check if you're eligible for that. I had a birth and pp doula (a trainee) with dd2 and she was worth her weight in gold!

Thanks for that morethanasong - £10 per hour is excellent and I have heard that postpartum doulas are usually pretty responsive with regards to their 'start date'.

Can anyone tell me whether lactation consultants are as quick to visit? I'd ideally like some help with baby's latch within his/her first 24 hours of life. Is that reasonable to expect or do they tend to work on an 'office hours' basis?

I don't know about lactation consultants, but if you get to know the volunteers at your local bfing support groups you may find someone who would be willing to visit you in hospital. Some of the groups have volunteers who regularly visit the pn wards to provide support as soon as possible.

The support groups all welcome pregnant women. You don't have to come with a baby. You may find it very helpful and reassuring getting to know them and observing the. You will probably learn a lot before you 'need' it, and be better prepared that way, and they will all be familiar and undaunting by the time the baby is born.

You should really be able to get free help. I think there are a few 'board-certified lactation consultants' out there, but there are quite a few people who purport to be lactation consultants, but are in fact large piles of poo, to put it indelicately.

I have BfN training, and my training requires that I commit to not charging for my help - I think the other organisations make the same requirement.

At any rate - yes, go to support groups. Find out which of the four organisations (LLL, ABM, BfN, NCT) best covers your area, and use their helpline and whatever drop ins you can find.

If you are willing to say what town you're in, people on here will find you groups and reousrces, too ...

I would pay for the doula and make use of as many free breastfeeding support services as possible. It's sad to say but some lactation consultants are in it for the money, and may give out bad advice. At least with a volunteer you know they are motivated to help because they want to. Find out where the groups are near you and go now, at least so you know a familiar face if you need support. NCT were really helpful for me, I went to a breastfeeding workshop before the birth and the local volunteer was going to come over and observe a feed for me but the midwife was able to come sooner and helped.

I used a lactation consultant with DS - she wasn't very good, and i paid over £100 for 2 hours and i still gave up

The one thing that has made the experience different this time is:

Being able to feed DD almost permanently during the first week or so (DH has paternity leave and basically did everything so i could concentrate on feeding)

This helped me to get DD's latch right, establish my supply and get her going

a doula will help you to do this as she is there to help support your needs

agree re using the free support which is out there rather than a lactation consultant

7 weeks in i am exclusively breastfeeding whereas with DS, he was mix fed from the start and on bottles completely by this point

Oh also, might be an idea to look up about biological nurturing as it's supposed to help with getting a good latch.

Thanks so much everyone

I'm thinking I'll go for the doula and join as many of the free breastfeeding support services as possible. I had no idea that there was so much voluntary support out there. Kinda warms the heart a bit, doesn't it?! I plan to attend my next local LLL meeting in December and take it from there.

I like the look of biological nurturing, although I'd never heard of it before. Our attempts at latching DS (now 13 months) were pretty clinical and he soon developed a real aversion to the breast. So much so in fact that for his first few weeks he was only able to settle in my husband's arms as the smell of me and my milk made him instantly stressed - he arch his back and scream as soon as I started to maneuver him into one of the taught positions. That was pretty tough - I felt more like his torturer than his mama at times