Zena’s breastfeeding story.

11 Mar

I should start by saying that I've been very lucky, so my experience is generally positive, I know that isn't always the case.

My biggest surprise was how to deal with breastfeeding at birth. I'd been told about immediate skin to skin and feeding of course, and I aimed for that. After a successful water birth we managed immediate skin to skin but, because of a 3rd degree tear, I had to hand baby over while I was examined and then she was checked over. Before l knew it, although I think it was some time, I was off to surgery for an hour or so. When I got back she was asleep in a hospital cot and Steffen was knock out on a chair. I was numb from the waist down and none of the staff stayed so I had no way of picking her up or feeding her. It made me emotional. I finally managed to wake Steffen (he'd been looking after me, without sleep since 10pm Monday, and it was now 5am on Wednesday, so he was in a deep sleep) and he passed her to me. That first feed was really wonderful, even though I was pretty sure, having had the advice from HPHB, that she wasn't completely latched properly. My advice would be to make sure you ask staff for help - there was a call bell but it was so early that I didn't want to bother anyone. It would've helped to ask for a lactation assistant, which it turns out was available. Next time I will press that bell without hesitation.

- I have nearly always breastfeed Freyja to sleep in the evening. I really don't think it's that big a deal and now, she's 4.5 months, I've started to wake her slightly after her feed and before she goes in her cot, so I can try to help her self soothe. That's worked for the last couple of nights. I think that new mums should be told that there is masses of advice out there, but it's important that they don't punish themselves or over worry if they happen to find that something slightly different works for them.

- On my first day at home after hospital the midwife visited. I mentioned to her that I thought I needed help with my latch as Freyja want staying on well and was crying a lot when I tried. Within 10 minutes, a lactation consultant from Henry was at my door (she'd had a cancellation on the next street). 10 minutes after that Freyja was latched on nicely, I was in tears in happiness in my sofa, and I've not needed any help since.

- My top tips that I'd like to share:

1. If you have large not very full breasts like me, the latch can be as issue: ask for help, as many times as you need it, and it will be fine.

2. I have a very quick let down which meant that Freyja often choked/spluttered when she first latched. When she was very small, that was helped by holding her like a rugby ball, although that was only for the first month. During that time, and up to 2 months, I would hand express for a minute on each boob before feeding, that stopped the let down from flooding her, and meant that she fed well.

3. Breastpads are essential. If you are using disposables then I highly recommend Lansinoh. I got through a lot as Freyja, especially now, takes varying amounts at feeds.

4. I did some pre natal expressing of colostrum, as discussed at HPHB. I didn't need the colostrum in the end as I was well enough to feed her myself, but I think the exercise of learning how to manual express in advance, when I had more sleep and less stress, was really worthwhile, especially as I've since needed to hand express because of fast let down.

5. If you are big busted, don't buy too many nursing bras. Buy a couple of nursing vests until your breasts have settled in size and then invest in a couple of nursing bras - at a larger size, nursing bras are just to expensive, and your boobs change too much, to make out worthwhile otherwise.

6. Create a WhatsApp group with the other HPHB mums; mum friends who are going through what you are going through will be your go to resource for middle of the night questions, or just for company.

7. Don't stress when the growth spurts or 4 month sleep regression start making your baby feed like a ravenous beast - it'll pass, and each spurt results in amazing changes in baby, so it's worth it.

I think that's everything. Above all, I just want to say that, for me, breastfeeding has been wonderful and I enjoy feeding Freyja everyday (although not necessarily all the way through the night!), but that doesn't mean there is anything wrong with bottle feeding - several mum's in my group bottle feed and their babies are as wonderful and as switched on/ developing as the breastfed ones.