Stupid question about the NHS

[sleeplessinseatle]

Do they actually have people who are specially qualified and work full time as lactation consultants/breastfeeding councellors?

I have noting against midwives or health visitors, but are there specialists you can be referred to if you have a specific issue?

noting = nothing

i only know of ones trained through the bf organisations eg LLL, ABM or NCT. these counsellors may then work with the nhs to provide support in hospitals. otherwise they are often barely more than peer supporters with an afternoon of training rather than the degree equivalent in depth knowledge NCT etc have.

hmmm. Suspected as much. Seems madness they promote breastfeeding so much but then don't employ specialists?

Can't imagine going to NHS and saying you needed help with another problem and they just saying 'ring x charity' or 'go to a peer support group' They just seem so dismissive.

I'm planning to go to the Drs on Monday anyway and see what happens. Really hope there is someone they can refer me to.

have you rung the bf helplines? i wouldn't expect a gp to much help tbh. what's the matter?

Ealing PCT run a breastfeeding support group although not sure of the persons qualifications. She helped me though so no complaints.

My hospital had a full time consultant - only problem was she was booked up about 4 weeks in advance!
However there is (now - started shortly after I gave birth) a local specially-trained midwife who goes all round different childrens centres etc running drop-in clinics each day, who is excellent, and she referred me to a consultant who works at a Baby Cafe (google them - they do bf support really well and give you tea and chocolate biscuits at the same time), in the next borough.

there's 2 at my hospital. 1 is based in neonatal unit and helps mother express for prem /small / sick babies and helps introduce feeds / works with babies with feeding issues. The other consultant provides support on pn wards and runs antenatal and postnatal classes / sessions

where are you?
Disclaimer: I work in the NHS.
lots of (BF) feeding clinics here (Scotland) provided by the NHS. We also have an NHS funded BF initiative locally (and abysmal BF rates!). BF is a public health issue, so it is/certainly should be an NHS priority. Of course the reality is that support and services are the "postcode lottery" that everything else is...despite the rhetoric.

Hope you get the help and/or support you need when you go to your GP.

oh yes we have bf drop in clinics/baby cafe etc. but they aren't run by experts. they're run by HVs, midwives and peer supporters.

The Trust I work for offers specially trained staff to support breastfeeding mums.

what does 'specially trained' mean? one afternoon? 3 years? ongoing training?

nct training

NICE guidelines for peer supporters

Ah, in my borough, the NHS pays BF specialists (trained by the BFN) to work in the postnatal ward, visit new mothers at home, and run drop ins. These are not HVs or midwives, they are generally BFN supporters, equivalent(ish) to NCT breastfeeding counsellors afaik.

Thanks. It does sound mixed what's available so I'll go to my GP and see what they say. Its a specific issue to do with my breasts, perhaps congenital so its not just peer support I'm after. I know there are some things that can be done even in pregnancy to promote milk production, so don't want to wait til I give birth.

do you know of kellymom aka the breastfeeding bible. might be some help on there too. hope you get sorted.

Thanks, hadn't been there.
Found Making More Milk a good book though.

Ah, ok. A key part of peer support training, from what I know, is learning about your limits. There are people out there who are experts in just about anything, the trick is to find them. John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford(shire?) has a v good breastfeeding clinic.

If a regular BF support person on the ward ran into someone with a woman who had some breast problems (tubular breasts, breast reduction surgery, breast implants, any other surgery history near the nipple) then they would help as much as they could, but would hopefully signpost the mother to someone with relevant skills.

A friend of mine went to a specialist (i believe NHS) clinic in Oxford. I would think that specialist clinics are few and far between though

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