Breastfeeding can be hard…worth it, yes; but, hard. The great news is, here at the Breastfeeding Resource Center, we have many different ways to help you and your baby succeed in your journey.
We offer consults with our IBCLCs, free weekly support groups as well as a variety of classes and workshops for families. All of our programs and services can be invaluable in your journey along the physical, emotional and social aspects of breastfeeding.
But what happens when you have a question at home? Or during those hours when it’s just you and baby, on the couch and it feels like no one else is rooting for you to succeed in breastfeeding?
In moments like these, it can help to talk to other moms who know EXACTLY what you’re going through, and can offer some guidance and support. The BRC is happy to offer Community Counselors as another piece of the support puzzle.
Community counselors consist of mothers that have nursed their own babies, have a passion for breastfeeding and took an extensive training class. After their successful completion of this class, our counselors are ready to support, counsel, offer non-medical information and sometimes just talk with new mothers as they navigate the world of breastfeeding.
Some specific ways the BRC’s community counselors can help our clients, include:
- Getting a good start with breastfeeding.
- Emotionally supporting families as they learn to breastfeed.
- Help with breastfeeding concerns and knowing when to refer to an IBCLC.
- Tips for how to breastfeed comfortably, even in public.
- Ways you can stay close to your baby through breastfeeding after returning to work or school.
- Ideas for getting support from your family and friends.
The wonderful thing about the community counselors here at the BRC is that they are plugged in to a very tight network together. So, for example, if you have a question or concern that your counselor may not be familiar with, she’s able to reach out to the other BRC counselors and get you in touch with someone who can help.
Our counselors each have a unique breastfeeding story, just like each of our clients. One of our community counselors exclusively pumped for 15 months, while another one is a birth doula and breastfed twins, and yet another struggled with supply issues and supplemented.
The great news is that EVERY BRC client can sign up for a community counselor. These counselors are available to you at no charge until the time you are ready to wean!
If you have any questions, or would like to sign up for your own community counselor, please email the BRC at Laura@BRC4babies.com
Keep on nursing on, mamas!
Leave a Reply