The Breastfeeding Network (BfN) is committed to providing evidence-based information alongside friendly, judgement-free, person-centred support. This helps mums, parents, and families to feel confident and supported in making informed decisions about breastfeeding.
In this blog, Sarah Turner, Chair of the Breastfeeding Network (BfN) and peer supporter, reflects on how we continue to support our service users, whatever is going on in the world, while also recognising the importance of taking time to be supported ourselves, so we can maintain the high-quality service our mums and families deserve.
“Have I heard correctly? Are they now saying that Tylenol taken when pregnant (the only painkiller recommended in pregnancy) is now the “cause” of autism?”
This message from a neurodiverse friend marked the start of the world getting that little bit bleaker for me and many others like me.
I am neurodiverse. My husband is neurodiverse. Both sets of our parents and our siblings show signs of, or have diagnoses of, neurodiversity. My children are also neurodiverse. It would be fair to say that I remain unconvinced it was the paracetamol that did it.
There is so much that could be said about this specific topic. The politics of it. The continued erosion of support for anyone wanting to have children. Yes, there are more diagnoses now, but that coincides with far better understanding of presentation and improved access to screening. While we watch with outrage rather than immediate personal impact here in the UK, it’s worth noting that parents of neurodiverse children are already worn down by a system that didn’t see it coming. And neurodiverse children themselves are already being failed. Having to manage all these feelings about all this non-science too? It’s a lot.
Over the last few days, I and other peer supporters I know have been looking inside ourselves to understand how we would support a parent asking about the safety of paracetamol and expressing worries about having autistic children. And realistically, there’s nothing unique about paracetamol and autism: as a lived experience organisation, every peer supporter will have a topic – or topics – that hit them hard.
One of our first tasks on the Helpers course is to reflect on our own breastfeeding experiences to identify those things that might still be painful for us. Because as a peer supporter, yes, you are a peer, but you are there to support the family in front of you with evidence-based information. If you hold your own emotions too tightly – whether anger, grief, or overwhelming delight and joy – you risk doing that family a disservice.
This is a huge ask of BfN’s trained volunteers and staff, and one which each person has to manage, in part, in their own way. For me, I will be reading the research. But I will also be talking to my supervisor, and discussing it with the peer supporters and health professionals I work alongside. The community of support and knowledge within the organisation is one of our key strengths. If you need support, you will be able to find someone (who is trained in active listening!) to listen. And through group supervision, you will support others too.
Peer supporters will be there to listen and help whatever is going on in the world. The difference between reacting from our own pain and responding with evidence-based support lies in these structures – the supervision, the community, the space to process our own feelings. That’s how we ensure that when a parent asks us about something we have struggled with ourselves, they receive the support they need, not the burden of our fears.
If you’re worried about any medication you’re taking while pregnant, please talk to your GP, midwife, or health visitor.
Our Drugs in Breastmilk Information Service is available every day of the year to answer your questions on medication and breastfeeding via email or Facebook Messenger. We also have 70+ factsheets which cover the most commonly queried medications, treatments, and procedures.
Our National Breastfeeding Helpline is available 24/7 via 0300 100 0212 or social media messaging (Facebook and Instagram only). Please visit our Get Support page for information on our local services.
If you feel that news or current events are affecting your mental health, please reach out for support – you don’t have to handle it alone.