For anyone who is pregnant and thinking of breastfeeding, already in the throws of it, or considering it for a future pregnancy, you need to know there is a lot of help out there.
Here are five great Irish breastfeeding sites (in no particular order) you need to know:
1 Friends of Breastfeeding Fostering a positive breastfeeding culture in Ireland
Run by a team of volunteers formed by a group of mums. As well as aiming to give a better understanding of breastfeeding across the general public, and improved access to good breastfeeding support in Ireland, the site offers a breastfeeding buddy scheme. Once a new or expectant mum applies to the scheme, she is paired with a buddy who'll visit her and provide moral and practical support. The scheme operates in some areas around Dublin South/West and D15, as well as some areas of Kildare. The service is entirely free of charge and mums can apply online to see if there is a buddy near them.
2 Breastfeeding.ie Every breastfeed makes a difference
Top 10 breastfeeding tips, FAQs, contact details for local breastfeeding support groups and videos of mums sharing their experiences are just some of the features you’ll find on the HSE’s informative breastfeeding website.
3 Cuidiú Caring Support for Parenthood A parent-to-parent voluntary support group
Cuidiú's motto is education and support for parenthood. Its aim is to provide information that allows parents to make informed choices about pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding. It offers antenatal and postnatal courses, local support and information to parents, and there are groups and events run nationally by branches and council.
You can speak to someone on the local branch contact lists, and branch Facebook pages allow you to chat to people locally about any issue. You can also become a member for €25 per annum by downloading a membership form.
4 La Leche League of Ireland Breastfeeding Help & Information
La Leche League (LLL) is a voluntary organisation that provides information and support to women who want to breastfeed their babies. Its mission is to help mums worldwide to breastfeed through mother-to-mother support, encouragement, information, and education, and to promote a better understanding of breastfeeding.
All LLL leaders are volunteers who have completed an accreditation programme and are familiar with breastfeeding techniques as well as current research. They organise the monthly meetings and are available at any time to speak with mums in person or on the telephone. Each local group holds informal monthly meetings where topics discussed include aspects of pregnancy, parenting and breastfeeding.
5 Association in lactation consultants in Ireland
The purpose of the Association of Lactation Consultants in Ireland (ALCI) is to promote the professional development, advancement and recognition of International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC) for the benefit of breastfeeding infants and children, mums, families and the wider community.
The site allows you to search for a private IBCLC who can support a breastfeeding mum in all situations. The consultant will assess mum and baby, then help make a plan for their particular issue.
