I attended a 10 week externally accredited training course within Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust and Bassetlaw Sure Start Children’s Centres towards the end of 2016 and then volunteered regularly at one of my local breastfeeding groups in Worksop, supporting new mums with their breastfeeding journey until I left the UK in May 2017. Training involved the concepts of lactation and breastfeeding, barriers to breastfeeding, breastfeeding trends and statistics in the UK as well as safeguarding, confidentiality and diversity.
It was because of my youngest son’s intolerance to dairy and the general attitude towards breastfeeding that I decided to take on the training. I found it hugely insightful but also found myself annoyed that I didn’t have this knowledge sooner nor as far as I was aware had any of my peers – if I had to have I’m sure I would have embarked on my breastfeeding journey differently. The mantra: ‘breast is best’ always rolled off the health advisor’s tongues but it was never really explained why or how amazing milk production is.
Today I use these skills to help other new mums and would love to continue my professional development in this area so that I can support many more new mums or mums to be.