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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

advice from breastfeeding counsellor?

54 replies

belindarose · 21/06/2010 15:52

I was speaking to the qualified bfc at my children's centre today about my 10 mo DD. Just an idle query really about whether her feeding was typical for her age (4 -5 feeds per day and 1 -2 at night. Didn't admit to the night feeds as bfc has already 'told me off' for them and I couldn't be bothered to defend myself). She was horrified I was feeding so much and said I should really be dropping feeds, one at a time, so as to 'prepare her for giving up'. She then said that BF after the age of one was 'unnecessary' and that it 'might be a wrench' for me to stop but 'baby doesn't need it' (she does know my DD's name!).
I don't know who she's trained by, but all the literature for the children's centre advertises her as a 'qualified bfc'. What do you think about this advice? It's made me query what I'm doing and I thought we were doing fine. I certainly wasn't planning on weaning yet.

OP posts:
BiiscuitFace · 21/06/2010 15:55

utter crap
who is she with?

belgo · 21/06/2010 15:56

I think you need to find out exactly what her qualifications are because her 'advice' seems very subjective and biased, if not prejudiced.

BTW, not that it's relevant because all children are different, but my ds is 20 months still feeds once at night (more if he is ill) and probably four times during the day (but I've never counted). His appetite for 'real' food is great!

It sounds like you are and your dd are going just fine without this bfc's advice.

StealthPolarBear · 21/06/2010 15:57

you need to complain about her( i am biscuitface btw)

thisisyesterday · 21/06/2010 15:57

she's talking crap/
i would investigate further and find out who she is trained with and then complain about her

does the children's centre name her as their qualified breastfeedin counsellor? or do they just claim that they have one, and she then presents herself as such?

luciemule · 21/06/2010 15:58

Sorry - but when you say bfc, do you mean HV?
No properly trained/qualified bfc would give advice/support. Is it her own private business?

Druzhok · 21/06/2010 15:59

I disagree with her. She sounds very much out of date. In fact, she sounds exactly like a Johnson&Johnson baby care book I have, that was published in 1992.

what you describe sounds typical to me. I'm still feeding my DD that frequently (second child: I gave up with first due to outside pressure: more fool me) and she's 18 months old.

luciemule · 21/06/2010 15:59

that was meant to say 'that advice/support'.

bratnav · 21/06/2010 16:01

that is ridiculous and wrong. I am training to be a BFC and the first thing I got taught at my first lesson was never to judge, only to support what the mother wants to achieve. Bloody furious for you.

Also DS (9mo) has only just started sleeping through without being fed (this week). He still has at least 4 feeds a day on top of 3 huge solids meals a day, it's fine. As far as I am concerned, when DS is ready to drop his bf feeds he will.

bratnav · 21/06/2010 16:02

Also I know in my area they have started to employ bf peer supporters for the childrens centres. No bf qualifications needed

ruddynorah · 21/06/2010 16:02

i don't think breastfeeding counsellor is a protected name, same as mternity nurse, so anyone can call themselves one.

from what you have said i would imagine she hasn't been trained by one of the big bf organisations, LLL, ABM or NCT. she's probably a HV or nursery nurse who has been given the title so the childrens centre can tick a box to say they are baby friendly.

luciemule · 21/06/2010 16:03

I am a trained bf peer supporter and whilst to be able to support mums in that role we have a lot less training than a bf supporter and way less than a bfc, I still wouldn't give 'advice' to a mum asking that question.

Did she even ask if you were happy to feed your baby that many times or did she just assume you weren't happy? She has completely put her own views about how long someone 'should' feed their baby upon you when actually her answer should have been something along the lines of "many mums decide to....." or "some mums find that...." She shouldn't have "told you off" about anything!!! Defo make a complaint. Even the Govt. advise bf until the age of two.

StealthPolarBear · 21/06/2010 16:05

bratnav, I've done the peer support training, and I wouldn't say that - it's about listening and supporting the mother not advice & judgeing

very [envy[ of the sleeping through btw!

tiktok · 21/06/2010 16:06

belindarose - she cannot possibly be a qualified breastfeeding counsellor, I promise you. I am a breastfeeding counsellor with NCT and know something of all the other training as well, and none of us would say anything like this, or indeed 'tell you off' for doing night feeds.

She may be a HV who's done some sort of course and they didn;t do anything beyond the first months.

Whatever she is, she needs challenging. She cannot be the only person connected with bf in your area. If you can find the courage to complain, then do so. You sound pretty strong, and able to at least query the rubbish she is telling you. Other women may be very upset and feel pressured to wean.

Let us know what you decide to do!

luciemule · 21/06/2010 16:06

Bratnav - that's very incorrect what you've said about the bf peer supporters. In suffolk, where I trained, I had 12 weeks of training that covered loads of scenarios.
We trained with the BfN and our tutor was so amazing and supportive. We knew exactly what we were and weren't allowed to discuss and how to approach/support new mums.

I think it's a bit naughty of you to say that bf peer supporters have had no training and I think the BfN would be horrified if they thought you had suggested otherwise.
In the first instance, a bf peer supporter is exactly who a bf mum might need and in fact, many midwives, GPs and hv's don't have as much training on bf as a peer supporter. A GP only has a basic 15 mins training on Bf.

thisisyesterday · 21/06/2010 16:07

but they are touting her as a "qualified" breastfeeding counsellor. so that implies that she has trained with one of the bf organisations

,maybe the OP can clarify this#?

thisisyesterday · 21/06/2010 16:10

luciemule... bratnav has only commented on the bf supporters at her local centre. not ALL peer supporters

tiktok · 21/06/2010 16:10

luciemule - it is certainly possible that some places have 'peer supporters' with no training at all - I know of at least one place that does this.

It's very very bad practice, of course, but it's not illegal (and very uncommon, too, but not unknown).

You can also call yourself a breastfeeding counsellor with no quals, as well!

TigerFeet · 21/06/2010 16:10

I've just qualified as a peer supporter - I had a 12 week training thing to do.

One of the key things covered is not to judge and not to tell people what to do - you are there to listen and to give advice.

How qualified is she? Who does she work for? Who did she train with? She's talking a load of bollocks imo.

I have to say that your feeding pattern sounds fine. DD2 is 9 months and has 4 feeds in the day (two of which are bottles now) and one or two at night. Totally normal.

luciemule · 21/06/2010 16:11

Yes I know - just didn't want anyone to think all bf peer supporters had no training.

thisisyesterday · 21/06/2010 16:12

she also didn't say no training, she said no qualifications

luciemule · 21/06/2010 16:12

What is it with the 'give advice' thing - Tigerfeet - sorry but giving advice is telling someone what to do and the whole point of a bf peer supporter is NOT to give advice but support - very different things.

luciemule · 21/06/2010 16:14

surely your qualification is that you are a breastfeeding peer supporter?

Original poster
belindarose · 21/06/2010 16:14

Thanks for your quick responses and support. The children's centre brochures/ info have her and a few others named as 'Breastfeeding Counsellors'. I have no idea which organisation, if any, she trained with. I did wonder about finding out when I got my first VERY dodgy 'advice' from her a few months ago (which was that my thrush was caused by frequent feeding and I should cut down - won't go into that!). I was very lucky to get excellent early support in a different area, but we have since moved. I do know she has encouraged other mums to BF on schedule rather than demand, so I feel she has a very different view to me anyway.
I ought to complain as she may be affecting others. However, she runs most of the children's centre activities so I don't want to cause difficulties as they are my only source of local baby support really.

OP posts:
Original poster
belindarose · 21/06/2010 16:15

Maybe I've added the 'qualified' bit mentally. I'll check!

OP posts:
bratnav · 21/06/2010 16:16

It's true for where I live, I didn't say it was true for anywhere else in the country as I wouldn't know.

I started out on the peer support course and it is excellent, not dissing it in the slightest.

Did I just use the word dissing?