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What help is available?

Before your baby is born

0. Discuss any questions or concerns you may have with your midwife and GP at your antenatal appointments or during antenatal education classes.
0. Contact a local breastfeeding support group. You can attend a support group meeting prior to giving birth as talking to mothers currently breastfeeding can give you information on how to breastfeed your baby and will build your confidence. You can

0. Ask for infant feeding information leaflets at the maternity hospital, GP surgery and from your midwife, La Leche League or Cuidiú voluntary breastfeeding counsellor. You can also order HSE breastfeeding publications at www.healthpromotion.ie

Where can I find breastfeeding support and information after my baby is born?

0. Seek help from the midwives in the hospital or your home birth midwife.
0. If you are at home you can ring your maternity hospital to speak to the midwife specialist in breastfeeding or the midwives in the postnatal ward where you were a patient. You can do this at any time during the first 6 weeks following the birth of your baby. If you are having problems you and your baby can also return to the hospital during this time and be seen by a midwife or doctor who will provide you with any breastfeeding help you may need.
0. You can contact your public health nurse (based in the local HSE Health Centre- see local telephone directory for number). Public health nurses hold drop-in (no appointment necessary) well baby clinics and provide home consultation visits to mothers and babies. Public Health Nurses can be contacted by phone Monday to Friday for an hour each morning (usually between 9.30am – 10.30am). You may be able to leave a message at other times.
0. Contact your local breastfeeding support group to receive information and support over the telephone or arrange to attend one of the local support group meetings. Mother-to-mother breastfeeding support group meetings are organised and facilitated by HSE public health nurses and voluntary breastfeeding counsellors, mainly by La Leche League and Cuidiú-Irish Childbirth Trust. In a few areas there are also non-affiliated voluntary mother-to-mother breastfeeding support group meetings that you can attend. You can find contact details for support in your area on this site. All La Leche League Leaders and Cuidiu counsellors are mothers who have breastfed their own babies and who have completed an accredited training programme.
0. Attend your local GP or practice nurse –if you used shared maternity care from your GP and your maternity hospital or home birth midwife you are entitled to 2 free GP maternity and child care consultations before your  baby is 6 weeks old. If you are a medical card holder all visits to the GP are free of charge.

0. Make contact with a private lactation consultant. There are an increasing number of International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC) providing private breastfeeding information and support. Consult your local telephone directory or the Association of Lactation Consultants in Ireland, www.alcireland.ie, to find out if there is an IBCLC qualified lactation consultant in practice in your area – there is a cost for this service. The IBCLC qualification is a recognised standard of expertise in lactation management.  Many midwives, public health nurses and voluntary breastfeeding counsellors (and some GPs) in the public health and voluntary services also have this qualification.

My baby is over 6 weeks old where can I get breastfeeding information and support?

0. You can contact your public health nurse (based in the local HSE Health Centre- see local telephone directory for number). Public health nurses hold drop-in (no appointment necessary) well baby clinics and provide home consultation visits to mothers and babies. Public health nurses can be contacted by phone Monday to Friday for an hour each morning (usually between 9.30am – 10.30am). You may be able to leave a message at other times.
0. Contact your local breastfeeding support group to receive information and support over the telephone or arrange to attend one of the local support group meetings. Mother-to-mother breastfeeding support group meetings are organised and facilitated by HSE public health nurses and voluntary breastfeeding counsellors, mainly by La Leche League and Cuidiú-Irish Childbirth Trust. In a few areas there are also non-affiliated voluntary mother-to-mother breastfeeding support group meetings that you can attend. You can find contact details for support in your area on this site.  All La Leche League Leaders and Cuidiu counsellors are mothers who have breastfed their own babies and who have completed an accredited training programme.
0. Attend your GP or practice nurse for information and guidance.
0. Make contact with a private lactation consultant. There are an increasing number of International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC) providing private breastfeeding information and support. Consult your local telephone directory or the Association of Lactation Consultants in Ireland, www.alcireland.ie, to find out if there is an IBCLC qualified lactation consultant in practice in your area – there is a cost for this service. The IBCLC qualification is a recognised standard of expertise in lactation management.  Many midwives, public health nurses and voluntary breastfeeding counsellors (and some GPs) in the public health and voluntary services also have this qualification.

find contact details for support groups in your area on this site