In desperate need of support from an IBCLC (Lactation Consultant) but very poor and can not afford it

[soulfulsun]

Does anyone know of any IBCLCs (Lactation Consultants) in the London area who work on a voluntary basis, or who can be accessed through the NHS? I'm experiencing complex breastfeeding difficulties with my 6-month-old and have been since he was 2-months-old. He won't accept a bottle and I'm really determined to make breastfeeding work - I've persevered this far. I feel I've tried everything and require the highest of professional support.

However, I'm a single, working-class mother. I live on a very low income and simply cannot afford to seek private support. Local, charity-run support is unable to help much as the issue is too complex.

This has been causing me real stress and emotional pain. I'm sobbing as I write this.

Any advice will be useful.

Kind regards,

A desperate mother.

Have you looked for local La Leche League advisors? And has your child been checked for tongue-tie?

There are various different breastfeeding support groups around, have you had a look on Facebook? Try searching 'breastfeeding support London'; there are other Mums out there who are peer supporters (friend is a volunteer peer supporter). Think another poster mentioned La Leche League - we have free monthly meet ups in my local area, I think they have a helpline number you can call too so they might be able to point you in the right direction.

Have you tried calling the National Breastfeeding Helpline on 0300 100 0212. Their training is very good, and they're free. It's over the phone, which is not ideal I know but worth trying.

There is an organisation called the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers who run a free helpline and drop in groups, and one to one support. I can't recommend them enough, they helped me get feeding established and then helped me tandem feed when DS2 was born before DS1 had weaned. See if there's a group near you: abm.me.uk

Also, the group leaders are not just peer supporters, they're trained consultants so they should be able to deal with almost any issue.

Have you posted the issue on the breastfeeding board on here? Lots of lactation consultants on here that have tonnes of experience and have been so helpful to me in the past.

If you are in west London try the group at Labi Deli www.chelwest.nhs.uk/services/maternity-obstetrics/feeding-your-baby/postnatal-breastfeeding-support
Yvonne Insh is a LC

Depending on where in London you are there is an amazing support group in Windsor, run by the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers. The main ABM group may also be helpful?

Which borough do you live in?

Hi, all.

I live in East London (Waltham Forest). My baby has been checked for tongue tie, and his posterior tongue tie was snipped at 13 weeks (he's now 30 weeks) - it made absolutely no difference. I was really hoping it would, but it didn't. I understand that it may have reattached, but I can't afford to get it looked at again or snipped again - it's a shame that all this stuff is private.

I've contacted people from almost all of those groups/organisations, but the advice given is always common advice - that which I'd already come across online and had little luck with. Seems the issues we're facing are beyond 'common' issues and are a lot more complex. I've also utilised a lot of breastfeeding support groups on FB - same thing. That's why I'm eager to be seen by an actual IBCLC!

It's very stressful! :(

Appreciate all the responses - really do.

What sort of issues are you having that you describe as complex? Not saying any of us are experts, but you never know, one of us may have sought help for the same issue

Have you asked your HV if you can get the tongue tie checked again? We didn't have to pay to have it checked, and we were offered to have it separated on the NHS as well.

If you're in Waltham Forest then can you get yourself along to Hackney or Islington? The Breastfeeding Network is commissioned in those boroughs to offer face to face drop in breastfeeding support at the children's centres-they are honestly worth their weight in gold

The furthest east I think would be at Daubney Children's Centre just past the Homerton, they do a drop in on a Wednesday afternoon but if you're willing to travel a bit further you'll find something on tomorrow in one of those two boroughs-check out the breastfeeding network website

Every time I try to post another comment, it doesn't appear in the thread - odd. Is there a word/character limit, or something?

Ok, my last comment posted which suggests there might be a word/character limit, so I'll split the comment I want to leave in half and post it as two, maybe?

It's not letting me post it - not even in pieces!

Is it a shallow latch? My kids have small jaws and I have short nipples. There's just no way that we could achieve a deep latch with that combo. We used medela nipple shields in xl for the entire time we fed - 14mo for the first and 15mo for the second. Annoying to carry around, but as they both also had reflux and CMPI, it was for the best.

HTH

The NCT feeding support group local to me (sw London) had several LCs who would run the sessions so don't rule out support groups

I booked mine through this group, so it might be worth emailing them with the request you've posted here and see what they come back to you with
They might have one of their group running a group near you

www.londonlactationconsultants.co.uk/

There are lots of lactation consultants who do voluntary work - have you checked out the credentials of the ones in your area and contacted them directly?

Why not post about the difficulties you are having here, lots of us here have years of BF experience!

The advice given at breastfeeding groups is always very 'standard' and not very in depth in my experience.

I live locally, La Leche League Waltham Forest (Walthamstow( and La Leche League East London (based out of Forest Gate) both have excellent leaders. They are easily contactable on Facebook via those names and I know the leader of the east London group will do home visits.

Otherwise Henry in Waltham Forest do 121 sessions and breastfeeding cafes (not sure what they'll be offering next week with Christmas) more information here www.henry.org.uk/walthamforest

pS la Leche league Waltham Forest did have an ibclc heavily involved with them, but I don't know if she still is, either way, definitely worth reaching out to them