Recommend a good breastfeeding/lactation consultant please? Post Reply

[Pod]

Hi NVN's

I am due in July with my fisrt and am really keen to breastfeed - having spoken to many Mums who have breastfed successfully - the main consensus seems to be that a lactation or breastfeeding consultant is invaluable. Even one Mum who had one with her 2nd child, said she didn't know why she didn't do it with her first, considering the support, help and peace of mind it gave her.

Can anyone recommend someone or if anyone has any advice or experience I would be really grateful and also ofcourse what that cost is likely to be?

I have joined NCT and will attend a breastfeeding session, but feel this wont be enough - I would like someone who can be there in the first few days to guide me through the experience and get it right from the off!

[Balham3838]

Hi I used Katherine Fisher, she was great and also helped another of my friends. Her number is 07949176776.
My health visitor was also invaluable, if you find one you "click" with they can be such a fantastic support.

[Pod]

Thank you Balham3838 - I will give her a call, I will also keep my fingers crossed for a great health visitor too!

Anyone else have any advice or recommendations please?

[MyBreastfedBaby]

To find qualified private breastfeeding help near you, look on www.LCGB.org for a listing of IBCLC certified lactation consultants by area. There are several in south London.
A private antenatal session with an IBCLC is invaluable in building on the NCT or hospital group class as you can have a plan tailored to your own medical history and concerns.
Then when your baby is born, you already have someone to call who knows you and your history.
A private IBCLC can also usually do home visits, which means that you get help with positioning etc in your own bed/ sofa, with your own home setup around you.

Best wishes with your bump!

Helen

Helen Gray IBCLC
http://www.MyBreastfedBaby.co.uk

[ekf]

In my experience the NCT breast feeding sessions are run by lactation consultants and will give you info and how to get postnatal help.
There is also a drop in breastfeeding cafe at the Salvation Army in Balham on Mondays which I can highly recommend. A lactation consultant spent a fair amount of time with me and helped me greatly with feeding problems. It's run by NCT and La leche League volunteers and I think it's an amazing free service for new mums.

[Pod]

thank you everyone - this is all really helpful, I will look into everything you have recommended! Much appreciation x

[stayathomemuminsw11]

I used two, Clare Byam-Cook with my first (very no nonsense and totally failed to diagnose a problem I had) and then Katherine Fisher when pregnant with my second who was excellent and diagnosed the problem I have and why breastfeeding hadn't worked first time, and gave me some great advice for number 2.

In the end I decided to bottle feed #2, but Katherine really was great.

I also second the NCT drop in breastfeeding cafe-it is meant to be very good.

[Southfieldsmummy]

I whole-heartedky recommend Katherine too. Went to see her after posting on here for a recommendation and she diagnosed a tongue-tie which she was then able to deal with there and then, made a huge difference to me. Worth the trek to Croydon!

[RubyMum]

I used Clare Byam Cook and thought she was brilliant. If you want her number I can give it to you. CBC's book is possibly the best one I read too.

[fionapm]

The NCT drop in centre (as above), is brilliant. I went 4 times over 3 mths and each time they were super helpful. Sharon George, who is one of their consultants and gives NCT classes, also does private sessions. You can google her.

I have just given up breastfeeding after 6 mths, I strongly recommend you give your baby a bottle once a day every day from about 4 weeks. Either expressed milk or formula. I hd a nightmare trying to get our baby onto a bottle.

[zaza107]

I used Beth Graham who is at the Portland but does outpatient there or at your home. She was fantastic, and helped both at the start, at three months, and then at seven months. I ended up breastfeeding for 18months, and couldn't have gotten over the seven month hurdle on my own. Beth is highly recommended. I agree re giving them an occasional bottle from early on, too.

[leapyearbaby]

I really really really wouldn't go near Clare Byam Cook, or her book. She is not a friend to breastfeeding. She's too close to formula companies for one thing and extremely lacking in knowledge on breastfeeding. She's not even trained - she's an ex midwife, and basic midwife training includes very little breastfeeding training, if any, depending on when the person trained. Everytime she's on some morning chat, the lines go crazy with complaints, and facebook goes crazy with complaints from the breastfeeding community.

personally i have issue paying for breastfeeding help. I know some people have to make money, but there are many of us out there, trained as supporters by the nct or bfn or LLL, and we do it voluntarily. There are loads of groups out there. Wandsworth's not too hot, partly because the breastfeeding rates are high, slightly less need. but if you go on the St Thomas's website, you'll find their link to breastfeeding groups in that area, and they are run by some extremely experienced and well trained breastfeeding supporters, many of whom are health professionals, and tongue ties can be diagnosed there, with speedy referrals. i'd really recommend them.

[motherbear]

Sharon George via NCT was invaluable by phone. Claire Byam Cook introduced me to nipple shields after 6 weeks of my newborn not sucking and the horrors of expressing for that whole time. I had dozens on midwives, NCT people, drop in clinics and goodness knows what else prior to that. The nipple shield worked and I never looked back so I would recommend Clare big time!!!

[MrsAmanda]

Clare B-C seems to polarise optinion. A friend of mine recommended her and when I had problems getting my first son to feed, I called her. I'd been in St Thomas's. None of the midwives or lactation experts (and I saw at least a dozen) could get my son to feed and I had blistered, bleeding nipples. Within 30 seconds of seeing Clare, she had him latched and feeding successfully. Yes, she doesn't advocate 'breast is best' at all costs, but she gave me a realistic view when I was depressed and guilty at having 'failed' my son.

[KatherineHepburn]

Another vote for Clare Byam-Cook.
I'd had a rotten time trying to breastfeeding my first. The midwives really hadn't helped, the NCT telephone helpline was next to useless sadly and after 2 weeks of trying I was ready to quit. She was my last call and should have been my first. It took her 20 minutes.
I hate the complaints of 'she's not even properly trained' blah blah blah. Perhaps not, but she has been teaching mothers to breastfeed for donkeys years and I'd trust her a whole lot more than someone who successfully breastfed themselves (and thus think it'll be easy for everyone!) and did a short course in it.
She polarises opinion because she is sensible. She doesn't believe that breast is best in all cases. She does advocate using formula if you're short of milk, especially in the witching hours. She doesn't believe that formula milk is the spawn of satan and she never, ever makes a mum feel crap or guilty.

And with that in mind. Best of luck with the feeding. When it works it's great. But if it doesn't, don't fret, it's not the be all and end all. Some babies will feed for Britain, but some are just tricksy no matter how hard you try.