by Tracey-Jane | breastfeeding
Helen Adams from Being Mum to Cami shares her breastfeeding experience
When I was pregnant with my daughter I was very undecided about whether or not I wanted to breast feed I did not think it was the most natural thing in the world and it always made me feel uncomfortable.
But after a very long labour and being left alone on my own for four hours in the labour suit with just my hubby and a new born baby, my mind started to change when she started to get cranky asked a passing midwife what I needed to do and just as she was starting to show me and my daughter latched on immediately and I know this will sound corny but all of a sudden I got why mums want to breast feed, my mind had been totally changed.
But I was to embarrassed to feed in public, and my nerves just could not get me over it, and that is where my big sister was my saviour she has had 2 children and her first was on her own when she lived in Honk Kong so she had just her hubby for support no family and had to do everything on her own. She was amazing when she came to stay for a week, she got me pumping milk and taught me all her tricks and made me feel confident about feeding in public, I had no choice she just took me in hand and made sure in the week she was with me I went to many public places and fed my beautiful daughter, and to my surprise by the end of the week I was a mum who just went about her day to day life with a baby and fed her when she needed it blankets are a good cover up and no one ever really guessed I was feeding.
My mum came to stay with us for a week when my daughter was four weeks old and this nis where my problems started i got really bad mastitis, so bad i was rushed into hospital with a raging temperature a huge lump in my breast, and a breast that resembled a homing beacon, a lt of antibiotics and a few weeks of feeling like whenever i fed i had cut glass coming out of me it slowly passed, I don’t know what i would have done without my Mum she took control just like my sister did, we had to introduce formula it my daughters diet at 4 weeks as I became very unsettled after the mastitis. I continued to pump into bottles and breast feed at the same time i was very fortunate that my daughter did not mind where it came from so long as she got it, I managed 6 months of feeding and i felt incredibly proud of myself and feel it created a unique bond between the two of us.
I know not everyone gets on with breast feeding as I struggled for a while, I had friends who tried and just did not gel with it but it does not mean they did not give their beautiful children the perfect start all the perfect start needs is a parent who adores their child that is perfect.
We’d love to hear your experiences of breastfeeding the first time and if you had any obstacles on the way…
by Tracey-Jane | Blogging, breastfeeding, Guest Posts
Working full-time while raising an infant isn’t easy, and one of the most difficult considerations is figuring out how to feed your baby in between working hours. While it’s a tough task, the job of providing sustenance for your child should fall primarily to you during the first months of his or her life. Experts agree that breastfeeding provides many benefits over manufactured formula, which should only be used as a last resort. That said, while the nourishment should be coming from you, others will be able to help you put in the time needed to do the actual feeding. Here are some tips to help you provide your baby with the best nourishment possible without being run completely ragged.
If you work from home or are located near your child’s day care, you may be able to nurse throughout the day. Even if you are unable to get away in order to feed your child directly, you should take the time to use a breast pump a couple of times during the work day if possible. This way, you will have a ready supply of milk for later, and it will keep the milk in production. If you neither nurse nor pump for long periods of time, your body will begin to produce less milk, and you will be forced to supplement with formula. You may have to do that to some extent anyway, but ideally, you will do it as little as possible.
Hopefully, you will have a place at work where you will be able to pump easily and discretely. If you are unable to take that much of a break or do not have an area that private to which you can escape, get a pumping bra, and you can pump while you work, accomplishing tasks as your milk is gathered into containers. Be sure to wear breast pads so that milk leakage will not damage your clothes.
Breast milk is the healthiest thing for babies to drink, so taking the time to provide your own milk to your baby will probably save you time in the long run, since you won’t have to worry so much about illness. The nice thing about pumping is that your baby will get all of the benefits of breast milk without it needing to come directly from you. This way, you can get a break. A caregiver or other family members can take turns feeding the baby using the milk that you have provided. It’s especially good if the baby’s father can do this, since feeding is a bonding experience, and he will not have as many natural bonding opportunities as you will.
You should try to bond with your baby as much as possible, and nursing is the most natural way to do it. When you come home from work, you should be all set to nurse your baby, who is likely to be eagerly anticipating your return. Instruct whoever is caring for your baby not to administer a feeding for a couple of hours before you return. That way, your baby will be hungry when you arrive, and you can feed him or her directly from your breasts. Feeling that soft, warm body against your chest is a powerful experience that will bring both of you a sense of security. At night, you will also be at home to feed your baby directly, and this will strengthen the bond and be healthier for your new child.
Finding the time and energy for breastfeeding can be complicated, especially for women who spend most of the day outside of the home. However, the benefits in terms of health and mother-child intimacy are very tangible, making it worth the extra effort to provide nutrition the natural way.
This post was written as a guest post by Mums Mall – an online shopping comparison mall dedicated to helping mums get the best deals online when shopping for baby/maternity products, toys and children’s clothing.
Picture sourced by
http://www.flickr.com/photos/matteo_bagnoli/4093271989/
by Tracey-Jane | Blogging, breastfeeding, Guest Posts
Zoe, mummy to Kayleigh, who is 6 months old shares her story and encourages you to ask for help if you think anything is wrong during breastfeeding.
I blog at http://www.mummykins.co.uk and you can also find me on twitter http://www.twitter.com/mummykins82
While I was pregnant with Kayleigh, I had decided that I definitely wanted to breastfeed. I knew that breastfeeding was hard work and several of my friends had gone home from hospital and then ended up going back into the midwife led unit for breastfeeding support, so I had planned to stay there for one or two nights just in case of any problems before going home.
Kayleigh was born via emergency C-section, and not getting the natural birth I had hoped for somehow made me even more determined to breastfeed. Luckily I was into recovery quite quickly where she was put onto my chest. She managed to latch herself on quite easily. For the 2 days we were in hospital the feeding seemed to be going well, but we still moved to the midwife led unit as planned, and I am so glad we followed through with this decision because on the third night we started having problems. If we hadn’t had the support of the midwives that night I’m sure I would have given up. (more…)
by Tracey-Jane | Blogging, breastfeeding, Guest Posts
Fiona Kyle shares her breastfeeding experience for our Breastfeeding themed month.
Two children, two very different stories.
I have two children. My son was bottle fed from 3 days old and my daughter was breastfed until she was eight and a half months old. As you can imagine, I have had two very different experiences of feeding my children. But I would not have it any other way.
My son is three now. He
was my first child and while I was pregnant I went to NCT classes and their breastfeeding workshop. The thought that I might not be able to breastfeed my baby never once crossed my mind. He was born by caesarean and for various reasons I didn’t see him properly for a couple of hours after his birth.
When it came to feeding, he just wasn’t interested. He did not get it. Three days, no milk and no sleep later, I gave him a bottle of formula. He drank it perfectly and that was that. Never looked back. Of course, I was left feeling horrendously guilty but my son developed into a lovely, clever, healthy little boy.
Two and a half years later, my daughter was born. She also came into the world by caesarean but I found it a much calmer and more positive experience than the first time. I was able to hold her as soon as my operation was over and she wanted to feed at the first opportunity. When I saw how naturally she took to it, I realised how different babies could be and that it hadn’t been anything I was doing wrong first time around. (more…)
by Tracey-Jane | breastfeeding, Guest Posts
Thanks to all those who have contributed articles and comments to the Breastfeeding Carnival for Breastfeeding Awareness Week. I know it has helped and supported many women understand that it is not always easy to breastfeed. You may not get the support you want or need, but if you want to do it, go ahead, give it a go, and do what’s right for you and your family. Remember that all your babies will be different, so will your breastfeeding experience.
Also, don’t beat yourself up if things don’t work out. If you’ve done what you can, you sometimes just have to move on. Sometimes, like after a breast reduction, you have your baby with no idea if you can breastfeed or not.
So, get as much information as you can – both medical and from other previous breastfeeders. Remember that your breasts are made for breastfeeding. It is cheaper and less equipment is required than bottle feeding. You only need good nursing bras, fitted correctly, and the will to succeed. Plus lots of support from family, friends and midwives.
The Breastfeeding Carnival Index:
Breastfeeding – Every Baby is Different
Breastfeeding – It’s not Always Easy
Breastfeeding – The Medical Reasons to Do It
Breastfeeding – Can you be too honest?
Breastfeeding – Naivety kept me going
Breastfeeding – It is possible after a breast reduction
Breastfeeding – Breast is Best? It’s what they’re made for
Breastfeeding – It just didn’t work out
Breastfeeding – I was one of the few who gave it a go
I’ve heard some awful stories this week about total lack of support for women who wanted to breastfeed, but felt that the midwives were more interested in getting them out of hospital rather than supporting them to breastfeed……maybe we should have a carnival about the support we need for breastfeeding?
I’d love to hear your comments on the Breastfeeding Carnival. Even if you haven’t commented on the posts, it would help me plan future events like this one if I know if it’s been helpful. What else could we have done to improve it for you, or what can we do in the future to add further information to this.
