World Breastfeeding Week 2015
Occasionally I like to write about things other than First Aid and this week sees the World Breastfeeding Week 2015. Breastfeeding often features in the media and across social media. Either because new research has been published or because a mother has been asked to stop feeding or to cover up. This year the focus of the World Breastfeeding Week is combining feeding and working. I thought I would share some of my experiences.
My first experience of breastfeeding was a conversation that went like this:-
Midwife: How did you plan to feed your baby?
Us: Breastfeeding
Midwife: What about now you know it’s twins!?
Me: Can you breastfeed twins?
Midwife: Yes you can, the more milk you need the more you make.
Me: Ok then, I guess we’ll Breastfeed.
They say necessity is the mother of invention, I then spent the next few months making a cushion that would enable me to tandem feed, I actually achieved a patent for this in later years. I won’t kid you that feeding in those early days and weeks was easy, and I think this is the experience of many women regardless of how many babies they’re feeding. However, we persevered and at 3 months we had a routine and feeding well established. It’s a sad fact that lots of women start breastfeeding but stop in those early days.
We got our girls used to taking a bottle too, so that I could express and then I could have the odd night feed off or even leave them with someone else for a short while.
I was never asked to cover up, although I did have someone try and tell me not to reserve a table in the Food Court in Lakeside shopping centre, she scurried away when she realised I was breastfeeding. This just goes to show that breastfeeding can be discreet.
Breastfeeding was definitely a team effort, I couldn’t have done it alone. I have the utmost respect for any woman who does. The support of my husband was very important to me. I also fed our son, and even though I’d fed two, still had the odd difficult moment.
I’m happy to say that our children are pro-breastfeeding but like everything they are also pro-choice. Choosing to breastfeed was one of the best decisions we made and now that they’re all in their teens it’s great to think of all the long-term benefits they’ve gained too.
If you’re considering breastfeeding or would like support there are networks out there that can help. Below is a couple that I found useful. Remember though that you know your baby best.
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