Breastfeeding is a topic which many people feel very passionately about, and when you are a new mother countless people offer advice, opinions and their own stories. This isn't always helpful though, and as a first time mum it can be slightly overwhelming, especially when advice is quite frequently contradictory or just doesn't fit your own situation.
When you look at the statistics for breastfeeding in the UK you can see we as a country fall far behind the rest of the world (stats taken from Unicef 2010 survey):
Tilly latched on immediately when I had been wheeled into recovery post C-section, however by around 11pm the night she was born it became very apparent that she wasn't getting the sustenance required, and after trying so hard to give her what she needed but failing I gave the go ahead for the midwives to feed her formula. 11 hours my preconceived ideas lasted! But the thing is I didn't fail, and Tilly didn't fail, she had a tongue tie which stopped her being able to suck enough to get the full milk supply. This took 5 weeks before we had our hospital appointment to correct it, and in that time I exhausted myself expressing every 2 hours so that Tilly could have breast milk. In the end we combination fed so that she grew at the rate that was acceptable to those looking after us, and I didn't keel over from putting the huge pressure on myself to exclusively breastfeed.
Now six months on Tilly has effectively weaned herself off of the breast, which when it became apparent that she didn't want to suckle anymore I was quite upset - yes I spend pretty much 24/7 with her but I thought the closeness and feeling that I was nourishing my daughter would fade because we weren't having the regular skin to skin anymore.
A week on and I am feeling a bit better about the situation, we have started feeding solids and that is providing a lot of entertainment and a new type of bonding as Tilly discovers the new tastes and textures I give her.
As my breastfeeding journey has come to an end and the pumps are thoroughly washed and boxed back up, I wanted to put a few words together which surmise how I have felt through the whole experience , and offer up my personal words of wisdom:
When you look at the statistics for breastfeeding in the UK you can see we as a country fall far behind the rest of the world (stats taken from Unicef 2010 survey):
Exclusive breastfeeding at six weeks was 24% in England, across the UK, at three months, the number of mothers breastfeeding exclusively was 17% and at four months, it was 12%. However, exclusive breastfeeding at six months remains at around 1%.
Rates of ‘any breastfeeding’ at six weeks was 55%, while at six months they were 34%.My daughter is just about to hit the six month mark, and I fall into the 'any breastfeeding' category. Pre-baby I was convinced I wanted to exclusively breastfeed and didn't look into formula at all. I went to a NCT class and advice was given from many people that breastfeeding was easy and that it was best. Now I do agree with both of these comments, however establishing breastfeeding was by far the biggest challenge we faced after Tilly was born.
Tilly latched on immediately when I had been wheeled into recovery post C-section, however by around 11pm the night she was born it became very apparent that she wasn't getting the sustenance required, and after trying so hard to give her what she needed but failing I gave the go ahead for the midwives to feed her formula. 11 hours my preconceived ideas lasted! But the thing is I didn't fail, and Tilly didn't fail, she had a tongue tie which stopped her being able to suck enough to get the full milk supply. This took 5 weeks before we had our hospital appointment to correct it, and in that time I exhausted myself expressing every 2 hours so that Tilly could have breast milk. In the end we combination fed so that she grew at the rate that was acceptable to those looking after us, and I didn't keel over from putting the huge pressure on myself to exclusively breastfeed.
Now six months on Tilly has effectively weaned herself off of the breast, which when it became apparent that she didn't want to suckle anymore I was quite upset - yes I spend pretty much 24/7 with her but I thought the closeness and feeling that I was nourishing my daughter would fade because we weren't having the regular skin to skin anymore.
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| Closeness despite the clothes - always cuddling and falling asleep on my chest, long may this last. |
As my breastfeeding journey has come to an end and the pumps are thoroughly washed and boxed back up, I wanted to put a few words together which surmise how I have felt through the whole experience , and offer up my personal words of wisdom:
Breast is best, however fed is betterNot all babies can breast feed, not all mothers want to breast feed, but a mother will always do what is best for her baby whether it be breast milk, formula or a combination. When it comes to feeding, the only right thing is that the baby gets enough milk.
Precoceived ideas are all well and good, however prepare to have a more open mind when your baby arrivesBabies don't know the 'rules' and advice. Each baby is unique and will probably have their own ideas about how they want to be fed!
Accept all of the advice that is offered, but your opinion is the most important at the end of the day, because you know your baby bestForm your own opinions and take the help that is offered, breastfeeding specialists are fantastic but you are the person up every few hours doing the actual feeding, and a mother's instinct is a powerful thing.
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