Quick question about breastfeeding groups???

[vix1980]

What are they for exactly? im 34 weeks and since the beginning of time ive had leaflets from my local sure start centre saying come to our breastfeeding group, then recieved another 1 from somewhere else which was miles from were i live and i just dont know what they are for.

do you all just sit around breastfeeding and chatting? cos i could do that from my home without the bother of having to get dressed? i just dont understand the fuss about them and wondered if anyone had been to 1, what did you do and was it worth going?

I think the general idea is that they have bf supporters there who will be able to help you if you are finding it difficult or you aren't getting the positioning and attachment right. As well as meeting other people. I haven't been yet but intend to give it a go next week.

they are usually run by professionals with a special interset in BF, could be a MW, HV or breastfeeding counsellor or lactation consultant. May also have bf supporters who are mums who have bf themselves.
The benefit is that you get good bf advice and support. BF does not come natrally to everyone and often mums do not have others around them to help and support.
I used to help run a group. Mums came for specific help, such as latching on but also to discuss concerns such as the baby's weight gain, feeding patterns, expressing , sore nipples, mastistis, thrush....you name it!!
some came once others came weekly as they gained support from teh other mums as well as the professionals.
If you are planning to bf , then why not go along before you have your baby, because they also give advice at that stage and you can talk to the bf mums about what it is like to bf a baby.

oops, spelling a bit rubbish this morning!!!

Besides all that stuff, it's marvellous to have reasons to leave the house and meet other mums. You can get lonely with a small baby and you can't just watch Homes Under the Hammer all day!

Yeah I went to mine it was fab I had no problems feeding but others came cos they did. Found it was a lovely social environment where you got to know other mums and was a chance to leave the house and go somewhere for a cuppa as none of nmy friends at the time had babies and most of the groups are geared to toddlers not newborns. Give you pratice in how long it takes to get ready to go somewhere with a newborn as well! As you are not expected to get there bang on time. Plus I found it gave me more confidence to breast feed in public as you get to practice somewhere where no one gives a second glance if you expose yourself!

Our local one is run by the NCT breastfeeding counsellor. It is basically another baby group (toys etc. for the babies, tea, biscuits and chatting for the mums), but you can also get breastfeeding support and advice there.

Thanks for that mrsjamin, i wasnt planning on just watching homes under the hammer all day - doctors is on too .

I didnt know you could go whilst still pregnant so i may definately look into that, im not really confident at mixing with other people as i get too shy so i can imagine id feel overwhelmed having to mix with a baby also, so that may be a good way of getting to know people so when i do actually need to go it wont be as daunting for the 1st time with a baby, ill prob drop them a line then and see if i can just call in. thanks again.

Sounds like a v good idea to go whilst pregnant, they will be able to give you some good advice about how to start breastfeeding. If you could be so bold I would ask if you could see a latch of a newborn as it will help you know what a good latch looks like. I remember seeing a picture in my nct class but a real life eg is even better. (btw I only said homes under the hammer as that is what I got in the habit of watching when I had DS1!)

Ours is just a baby group like any other really. You can drop in, make friends, chat, have a bit of sanity talking to another adult with the added bonus that everyone breastfeeds and should you have any problems or questions someone is there to answer them. A lot of people like having it as a safe space for feeding, they might not feel comfortsble feeding in public but at bf group they do.

I have one side that is more difficult to feed off and so usually when out I feed off the other side so I like that at bf group I can feed off the difficult side with whole boob hanging out in an odd position and nobody cares because they all understand.

Why can't we sit around watching Homes under the Hammer (or other TV shows) all day?! Is that some rule no-one told me about?

It did me perfectly well when DD was tiny and I didn't realise it would be a problem now DS is here. HUTH is bad enough but it seems infinitely preferable to trekking out with a newborn and a toddler to sit about discussing breastfeeding and the various possible associated problems with people who I have nothing in common with apart from the fact we have small children and are breastfeeding?

I'm watching Glee instead of going to bf today I've met some great people through it though, just as I have through other toddler groups or just in the park. Nobody forces you to talk about bf or make friends with people you don't get on with but I needed groups to mak friends when I moved here because I didn't really have any!

Flisspaps- it wasn't a serious point! I have a small house so feel really hemmed in being inside all day, so had to think up reasons to get out! I set HUTH to record so went out then watched it when I got home! With a new baby, you just need to do whatever is necessary to make you feel sane, whatever that is!

I still go to my bf group and dd is 15 months, I found good as ours is a drop in group also find it difficult talking to people sometimes and I could just leave at anytime. We dont just talk about beastfeeding we probably talk about othr thinga more actually but I great for when you need some help either from another mum who has been though the same thing or from the professionals, our group is very relaxed and there are mums who also no longer breastfeed who attend definatley worthwhile i think this group has saved my sanity since dd was born.

If you're nervous about feeding in public, it can be quite a good place to build up your confidence. For one, you'll see lots of other people feeding and realise it is much more discrete than you feel as though it is. Also, you'll know that all of them (or most of them at least) will have had the same concerns about it so they'll either look the other way whilst you're latching on or give you some advice as to how to do it.

Who knew homes under the hammer was so popular hey, im sure martin whatisname and his lovely sticky up hair will be pleased as punch to see he has so many loyal followers

on the other side i kind of agree with flisspaps, im not one for mingling especially as she says all we may have in common is having a small child, when i could stay at home and breastfeed, this is why i was asking what really goes on there and it seems like its just a little group to get to know other people in an environment where you all share the same method of feeding your child. I will go whilst still pregnant just to see how it looks and have an idea of what to expect but id much rather go to other groups with my baby such as baby yoga or massage, something where we can both be involved and get something out of it instead of me sat there making small talk with other women and babies. i completely get that others enjoyed ging to them and found them a support, but already having experience of my local surestart i just sense another reason for having a clique in them. but then again i may be desperate for the help when the time is here