Article: Making Money Out Of Breastfeeding Support

[Jo@Iwanttobreastfeed]

This is a really hard one: we seem to be living out a strange contradiction when it comes to all things breastfeeding. Formula companies and bottle makers are making squillions while undermining many a woman's attempt at doing something which is supposed to be physiologically normal - some societies have few problems, and deal with them with minimal fuss, and a few untouched communities I have read about appear to have no problems whatsoever.

Furthermore, a few select 'unqualified' self proclaimed breastfeeding experts have cornered the market (mainly London, although one in particular manages to spread her myth-reinforcing message round the country via the TV, book deals, and other media engagements) in helping (allegedly) mothers and babies to breastfeed. Meanwhile, breastmilk, although worth squillions, is donated by selfless women all over the world, and many other women are working tirelessly, under the supervision and guidance of nationally and internationally recognised breastfeeding institutions, to genuinely help and support women and babies to feed their babies the way nature intended. And they are doing it for free.

Now how does this add up exactly? And why so some get so angry about it? And what is it about these private enterprises that people in the voluntary breastfeeding support world find so galling? And why does the media support so-called experts to broadcast these misconceptions when they have the power to challenge them for good?

The women voluntarily supporting others to breastfeed do so out of an awareness and understanding that breastfeeding is not rocket science if you have the right expectations and information before you start, that many women can breastfeed if they are given good support early on, and that every mother and baby has the right to this support without having to pay for it. Sadly, those unqualified and operating privately consistently seem to perpetuate the myth that breastfeeding is something which only a few can do without all sorts of 'breastfeeding aids' and supplements, and expensive consultations, that breastfeeding is something that many women will struggle with, and that if you value it enough, you will pay lots of cash (lots!) for the help you need.

Now on the face of it, this seems fair enough in a way - why shouldn't women be able to pay for a service that they require? Breastfeeding is a struggle for many women, and lots of women do fail because it is too difficult to sustain while juggling all manner of life situations: why shouldn't they be supported how they wish in their endeavours to breastfeed however they can? Well, they should, but perhaps what is so galling for those in the supervised and qualified breastfeeding support sector is that women should get that support as a given, as a right, as a priority, when they give birth and just after, and if they want to pay for support for issues that are sometimes more complex, that support should be qualified and breastfeeding friendly. Private, unqualified breastfeeding support outfits, perpetuating the very myths that those in the voluntary sector are rightly trying desperately to debunk, do nothing for the bigger picture, do nothing for a social change in attitude and appear to do nothing for those women that want to breastfeed exclusively until around the middle of the first year, as per the current guidelines. And they get paid for it.

As for the media insistence on using these unqualified feeding 'gurus'. Who knows? Perhaps TV channels and newspapers do not want to alienate a massive percentage of their readership or viewers by using experts that say that breastfeeding is totally possible for most women, given that most women don't breastfeed for very long. On the other hand, this implies that they are either staggeringly unaware of the irony that the very misconceptions they are perpetuating by hiring these 'experts' are the ones that are stopping women breastfeed successfully in the first place, or they are choosing to ignore it. I don't know which is worse.

So maybe the answer is regulation. After all, women should have the right to pay money for a good service if they so desire. And you could say that those in the supporting roles have a right to have their time valued economically, either from the women themselves if that is their desire and they are able, or from the NHS budget. We have this in most sectors, from dentistry to physiotherapy - there are private and public operations. Indeed, in Speech Therapy, I am told that Speech Therapists in private practice are advised not to be too cheap - it is important not to devalue the profession. Regardless, breastfeeding support should be a trustworthy service, one regulated by a central body, and one governed by central principles originating from the Baby Friendly Initiative and the WHO guidelines. When will those in power decide that infant feeding is a section of the health service that is worthy of this? Sooner rather than later, I hope, or I fear not much will change.

Like this? Read more posts at www.iwanttobreastfeed.co.uk

[Unregistered]

I understand your frustration here. Conflicting messages from people who supposedly "know" what they are talking about does state the case for regulation, and the feeling that good, accurate breastfeeding support and advice should be available free to all is a very worthy ideal to work towards.
I work as both an NHS midwife and an antenatal educator, and also offer breastfeeding education and support privately, so yes, I am one of the "unregulated"! However, I have worked for over 11 years at a baby friendly hospital, throughout the time it applied for, gained and maintained this status. My current hospital is working towards baby friendly, and I have also extended breastfed my boys. I believe my advice and practice regarding breast-feeding is accurate and up to date. I don't sell any breastfeeding "equipment" ( women already have their own!!!). I do charge, though, as I need to cover my own costs and I need to live! I am not making a fortune at the expense of vulnerable women, though I can see how it is possible to exploit women in this situation and would be keen to ensure that women could be confident that all breastfeeding services are operating at least to a set minimum standard of professional competence.

[Unregistered]

Only 3% of woman absolutely cannot breastfeed. regulation is fine but then the regulators state what you Can and CAN NOT say. this is a huge disadvantage. look at the nhs often understaffed and no time to help woman, to effectively latch baby on. which is sad however, having Doulas and breast feeding peer supporters and Breastfeeding councillors, available is a good thing as they are not dictated to by hospital policy of so many hours after birth if not breast feed must supplement, or they may offer a bottle of water etc = nipple confusion.

Charge enough to cover travel to and from your clients and something towards any courses you have taken as what you know is valuable

[JuB]

I am happy to work to the Unicef breast feeding guidelines, however sometimes breast feeding is so hard for women. It is difficult to make women pay for breast feeding advice, that would prevent the women who need advice from obtaining it. Although they have support from the NHS, Sure Start, PCT's and so on. Breast feeding rates are the lowest in the most vulnerable of our society in Britain. That is where we need to concentrate our work to improve Breast Feeding rates, then and only then can we reduce the inequality of health in our society.

'The UK Infant Feeding Survey 2005 (Bolling et al. 2007) showed that 78% of women in England breastfed their babies after birth. However, a third of these women had stopped by week 6 so that only 50% of all new mothers were breastfeeding by week 6 and 26% by 6 months. For more details of the Infant Feeding Survey, please see link: '
http://www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/breastfeed2005.

Breast feeding always reminds me of the song 'it takes two baby.'

One can have a dream baby
Two can make a dream so real
One can talk about being in love
Two can see how it really feels

One can wish upon a star
Two can make a wish come true
One can stand alone in the dark
Two can make a light shine through

It takes two baby
It takes two baby
Just me and you
You know it takes two

One can have a broken heart living in misery
Two can really ease the pain like a perfect remedy
One can be alone in a bar like an island he's all alone
Two can make just any place seem just like bein' at home

It takes two baby
It takes two baby
Just me and you
You know it takes two
It takes two baby
It takes two baby
just me and you
You know it takes two

It takes two baby
It takes two baby
Just me and you
You know it takes two

by Sylvia Moy/William Stevenson

Breast feeding can break your heart and it takes two at the end of the day to make it work, but a well meaning and motivated, educated breast feeding supporter can make the difference. It is worth mentioning that partners have an invaluable role to play in their support of their loved one. Men have over a 60% influence on whether women continue to feed or not.

'A number of studies have found fathers influencing mothers’ decisions to initiate and/or sustain breastfeeding (for review, see Scott et al, 2001). ‘Unpacking’ this research it has been found that support from the infant’s father through active participation in the breastfeeding decision, together with a positive attitude by him and knowledge about the benefits of breastfeeding, have been shown to have a strong influence on the initiation and duration of breastfeeding (Swanson & Power, 2005; Arora et al, 2000; Bromberg & Darby, 1997). Low-income women in particular suggest that male support is crucial in their decision to breastfeed (Schmidt & Sigman-Grant, 2000).'
http://www.fatherhoodinstitute.org/2...breastfeeding/

It was fantastic to breast feed my two children and you can overcame the worst cracked nipples. I had badly cracked nipples, by gritting my teeth and my toes, being stubborn and bloody minded that I would SUCCEED regardless of pain, I fed for 8 months and 1 year. It was not easy at first but it was so satisfying to see my babies growing and being nurtured by me and the nutrition my body was making for them. I cannot describe what a privilege this was.

Also there are few policies in Britain today that subscribe to bottle feeding or supplementary feeds unless medically indicated.