Emily’s Breastfeeding Story.

Whilst I was pregnant I’d read about all the benefits of breastfeeding and knew it was something I wanted to try and do with my baby. I didn’t expect it to be easy but I thought like a lot of things if you try really hard it would be possible! I attended the HPHB course and listened closely to the breast feeding section, read the positive breastfeeding book and attended the HPHB Instagram lives that they ran during lockdown.

All made me feel prepared and ready for the challenge. After the birth the HCA in hospital was helpful and showed me how to get a latch and how to harvest colostrum both of which I tried but couldn’t manage myself. Lacking confidence from the start and gave my baby formula wanting her to have food over no food. When we were discharged we continued to struggle with getting a latch so I attended our midwife centre where they told me everything I was doing was right.

By day 8 in a not so mini meltdown I got in touch with Jasmine who had run one of the Instagram lives I’d seen as I knew I’d feel comfortable with her. We spoke briefly then and she recommended I look at getting a pump to help increase my supply, I hired a hospital grade pump and that was there by the time of our call the following morning. Jasmine was really generous with her time and realised I had flat nipples which was why the latch was proving so difficult for us to get.

One pair of nipple shields later we could get a latch which was a huge relief. She also recommended a cycle of feeding on the breast, formula top ups and pumping which worked but was a lot to fit in every 3 hours. We managed it though and now we’re firm mixed feeders which really works for us.

My only words of wisdom to other mums is to be as compassionate to yourself as you would to anyone else, I think hormones mixed with a trickier birth meant I was really hard on myself at first whereas with anyone else I’d never question their choice on how to breastfeed their baby.