World Breastfeeding Week - Breastfeeding Support

Thanks for hopping over from Lycrawidow and welcome to my post for the Keep Britain Breastfeeding Scavenger Hunt Day 6 The People Behind The Breastfeeder; sponsors today include ARDO Breastpumps who are giving away a Calypso Single Breastpump, Breastvest who are offering an essential breastvest duo (1x black and 1x white) in your size and Mother Loves Cookies who are providing a box of delicious lactation cookies for our Grand Prize winner. Over £700 worth of goodies are up for grabs entries via the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post. 

A Novice Mum's Biggest Supporter - her husband

"As an close observer of my wife's breastfeeding journey, it is incredible to see how far she has come from the painful and tearful early weeks. She now breastfeeds with a confidence I would have found hard to believe if someone had told me in the first few months of our son's life. I remember telling her to give up trying, and to feed him formula because I found it difficult to watch her try again and again to get the "latch", and other such things right. She confidently feeds today, and seeks to encourage breastfeeding mothers, no mean feat."

Sadies Biggest Supporter - her husband

"I asked my husband for a quote and he said, never eat yellow snow, after kicking him he said;I was really pleased that my wife was able to breastfeed. I was always told that "breast was best", and I want the best for my kids. There was also the added bonus that I hardly ever had to get up in the early hours to feed them, as we rarely had formula and bottles in the house." 

Laura's Biggest Supporter - her husband

"I am of the opinion that the child will end up the same regardless of breast or formula fed but I am supportive on that what you think is best for our children is what's right for us as a family and I will support you 110% on this. And I don't like night feeds so thats a bonus. Hashtag-plus-its-cheaper"

Georgina - The peer supporter who saved our breastfeeding journey!

My daughter was 4 days old when we trundled into the nearest baby café desperate for some kind of support, anything really, you know what it's like with the day 4 hormones sending you into a whirlpool of emotions. Nipples were throbbing, breasts were swollen and engorged and my daughter kept slipping off once latched. I remember crying as everything was so over whelming and everyone was so kind! The lady, who I'll refer to as A was running the support group and came over to speak to me, listened as I cried, showed me different positions to feed and gently suggested I attend the next La Leche League meeting as she thought E might have had a tongue tie (she did have a posterior tongue tie in the end). If I hadn't gone to that group on that morning and encountered that peer supporter I honestly think I wouldn't have continued breastfeeding. A was one of the main reasons I trained as a peer supporter myself. So I could help change the path of someone else's breastfeeding journey.

Another Bun - training as a peer supporter

After what was a difficult start, I enjoyed every moment of nursing my first baby. It was seeing the lack of support available and knowing the difference that good support can make to a breastfeeding journey that inspired me to train as a peer supporter. Being unable to commit to weekend training through my local NHS trust, I decided to train with the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers through their distance learning course. It was a real learning curve, and I was delighted to learn I had passed late last year. Even with my training, helping at a breastfeeding group, and having fed my first baby till 18 months, I still needed to call upon the support of a breastfeeding counsellor when my second baby arrived. Her reassurance was just what I needed, and made me realised I want to be able to broaden my expertise. Hopefully I will soon be starting on the breastfeeding counsellor course myself - it's a long slog (2 years) but it will be worth it!

Sian - Becoming a Peer Supporter 

I really struggled to breastfeed my first baby and if I hadn't have had support from the Infant Feeding Coordinators while I was in hospital I probably wouldn't have breastfed at all. I realised how crucial this support is, yet how hard it is for some mothers to access the help they need, so I trained as a breastfeeding peer supporter. I now get to pay forward the support I received by helping other mothers to breastfeed their babies too. 

For more on the people behind the breastfeeder please hop on over Life with Baby Kicks "My Husband is My Biggest Fan" where you can also gain further entries into the grand prize draw. Full terms and conditions can be found on the Keeping Britain Breastfeeding website. UK residents only. 

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World Breastfeeding Week - Extended Breastfeeding 5 Things Not to Say to a Natural-Term Feeding Mama

Thanks for hopping over from My Little L and welcome to my post for the Keep Britain Breastfeeding Scavenger Hunt Day 5 Extended Breastfeeding we have over £700 worth of breastfeeding and baby goodies up for grabs including prizes from More4Mums providing a set of 'Hot Milk' Lingerie, a signed hardback limited edition copy of Milky Moments and a £30 voucher from Milk Chic.  Full details of the Grand Prize can be found here and all entries to be completed via the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post. 

5 Things Not to Say to a Full-term Feeding Mama

1. "That baby will be breastfeeding 'til 5!"

If we had a £1 for each time we heard this one we wouldn't need to enter the lottery every Saturday. What we really want to reply with is: "And?" by allowing our children to self-wean it might just mean that they are breastfeeding until 5, which is quite the norm outside of western society.

2. "Don't the teeth hurt?"

Really? Do you think we'd still be doing it if baby didn't know how to suck without biting? The last time you drank out of a straw did you bite it in half? Exactly. Rant over.

Teeth - ouch?  Nope!

3. "Shouldn't your baby be, like, eating now?"

Oh - I did wonder! Maybe that's why she keeps stealing food off my plate. *Face palm*

Melon and milk

4. "If you stop feeding, baby will start to sleep through the night"

Possibly our favourite. Now, is it the 2am or 3am feed we love the most - no wait, it's the 4am! If only it was as simple as just saying "no" to a hungry baby in the small hours.

5. "Once they can ask for it - you need to stop"

New born babies will root around, suck their fingers, lick their lips - asking for milk. What's the difference between verbal and non-verbal communication in dependents, again?

For more extended breastfeeding experiences please hop on over to our very own Kohl Mama where you can gain further entries into the grand prize draw. Full terms and conditions can be found on the Keeping Britain Breastfeeding website. UK residents only. 

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World Breastfeeding Week - Working and Feeding

Thanks for hopping over from Milk and Mummy and welcome to our post for the Keep Britain Breastfeeding Scavenger Hunt Day 4 Working and Breastfeeding sponsors today include Feed Me Mummy with a black and white vest combo, Thrupenny Bits who are offering a cute cord in blue breastfeeding cushion and Kids Bee Happy who are offering your choice of sand art picture for our Grand Prize winner. Over £700 worth of goodies are up for grabs entries via the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.

Returning to work outside of the home after maternity leave is a very emotional time. How will the baby you've nurtured so closely ; nursed to sleep and kept next to your heart for the past weeks, months or perhaps years, survive without you?

Will you need to express? Will work provide a clean, private environment in which to do so? If you don't express will your milk supply dwindle? Hear some of our breastfeeding bloggers who have been through a returning to work and breastfeeding process talk about their experiences.

Georgina

"When I returned to work when my son was 13 months old I didn't have to worry about the breastfeeding side of things at an already very difficult time. So when it came to thinking about a return to work with my daughter I was naturally really anxious about how she was going to cope as I very much practice mothering through breastfeeding. I was reassured by parents with similar parenting values to my own that my daughter would find new ways to cope without me, she would find a different way to fall asleep for nap times and she would discover comfort from other sources. I had the mindset that if I needed to express, I would, and had already discussed it with my line manager. 

We chose the same nursery as her big brother, a reassurance of its own knowing there would be a family member in the same building. We were really happy knowing that she would be cuddled to sleep if necessary and not left to cry (do some nurseries even do that?!) and she could have as many hugs as she wanted. When it came to her visits, she didn't even look back at me and I remember thinking "I've been worrying about this moment since your birth and I'm standing here welling up and you're not even going to wave to me?!" and that was that. She found new ways to fall asleep, ate like a trooper,  entertained everyone with silly faces and noises. I never did need to express, but that was personal preference. She isn't just coping at nursery, she's thriving."

Jenny

"I am a bat worker and so only work nights occasionally when I get a phone call.  As it's at night my little one is asleep and I can work.  However, one of my favourite working and breastfeeding moments has to be when I attended an all day bat worker conference with my then 4 month old.  There were various talks and workshops scheduled throughout the day, I managed to go to them all, aside a short break to change an explosive nappy!!  He was great, whenever he started to fuss I popped him on my breast and he fed until he was happy or asleep.  It worked out really well and not a hinderance to my conference experience at all."

Sian

"When my eldest was 11 months old I started working part-time, at the weekends. I was worried about how my son would cope without a feed during the day, but he was absolutely fine. He rejected expressed milk and simply waited until I returned home. He would then have a really long feed, which was lovely way to reconnect after being apart the whole day. 

I only worked at the weekends and during the week my son would breastfeed as usual. My milk supply wasn't affected either way - I still made enough during the week and didn't have an oversupply on the days I worked. Clever boobies!"

aNoviceMum

I was concerned about how breastfeeding will work with my return to work after maternity leave. I had hoped, prayed, and worked with steel determination to make breastfeeding work for us, and going back to my job felt like a threat to this. Even then, I decided to go back for the start of the school term. 

I made sure I read up on my legal rights before going to negotiate my return. Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned and I returned to my maternity leave to give my baby and I more time. In the end, I found a way to make it work for my employer and I. I was able to return home to feed my toddler at lunch times and this worked with our breastfeeding relationship. 

It's challenging, because I'm not able to do certain things at work like before, but my family's wellbeing is of upmost important to me. 

It's been interesting going back to the days of feeling really full to bursting point. This however, only happens during the week when I'm at work. As some mums in my breastfeeding group told me beforehand, my body has adjusted to the changes in our feeding times. Incredible, isn't it.

For more posts on working while breastfeeding experiences please hop on over Fit for Parenting where you can gain further entries into the grand prize draw. Full terms and conditions can be found on the Keeping Britain Breastfeeding website. UK residents only. 

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World Breastfeeding Week - Dress to Impress

Thanks for hopping over from Life with Baby Kicks and welcome to my post for the Keep Britain Breastfeeding Scavenger Hunt Day 3 Dress to Impress sponsors today include Milk and Mummy with a £50 voucher, Lorna Drew Maternity who are offering a beautiful set of nursing lingerie and Mummy Makes Milk who is offering a signed copy of her beautiful book for our Grand Prize winner. Over £700 worth of goodies are up for grabs entries via the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post. 

Dressing while breastfeeding can often seem like you aren't able to follow the latest fashion trends and that you fall into the stretchy clothes only, frumpy mum look (leggings and Ugg boots anyone?!) Here, Georgina from Kohl Mama shares some of her tips on finding outfits that work around breastfeeding that won't break the bank.

Think outside the box when it comes to breastfeeding in warmer weather. Look for maxi dresses that have a double layer on the top half. This striped Maxi cost me £18 in the Monsoon sale - a fraction of the price of breastfeeding-specific clothes!  The top layer lifts up and the under layer is stretchy enough to pull down and unclasp my bra. You can also cut holes in the bottom layer - et voila!

Just after my second was born I bought 4 H&M nursing vests (right -£19.99) and it was money well spent because eighteen months later, they're still in good nick. The fact that they cover my midriff and back mean that I can then wear whatever I want and just feed by pulling up the top layer. 

Tops with buttons are also really practical for easy access! 

If you like the look of a longer skirt but can't find a maxi dress that you can feed in, opt for a maxi skirt. I love to team mine with a denim shirt tied at the bottom. A long pendant adds a bit of  bohemian glamour and doubles as a good fiddle 'toy' while baby is feeding!

If you want more breastfeeding outfit ideas - follow me on Instagram; every outfit I wear has to be 'feedable' <3 what are you top tips for finding breastfeeding-friendly clothes?

You can find some more ideas on Breastfeeding Fashion over on Unique and Chic with another chance to gain some extra entry points to our grand prize giveaway.

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World Breastfeeding Week- Positive Public Feeding

Thanks for hopping over from Milk and Mummy and welcome to my post for the Keep Britain Breastfeeding Scavenger Hunt Day 2 Positive Public Feeding we have over £700 worth of breastfeeding and baby goodies up for grabs including prizes from Snoob with a breastfeeding scarf, a goodie bag from Forever Patricia and a breastfeeding necklace from Booby and the Bead.  Full details of the Grand Prize can be found here and all entries to be completed via the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.

As a blogging breastfeeding collective with a decade of breastfeeding between us we have all fed in public.  When the baby needs feeding the baby needs feeding!

Some of those first experiences were tough, nerves getting the better of us, feeling as though everyone was looking, so we wanted to share with you our most memorable positive moments for all the nervous public feeders out there:

Sarah; "One of my most positive experiences was going out with my NCT friends.  I was one of the first to give birth and many were still pregnant.  We met at a baby group and my girl needed feeding.  I felt under so much pressure to get it right in front of them all but I was fine.  My girl latched on and did it!  All the NCT girls were so supportive and impressed I was out,dressed and feeding.  It made me realise I could do it and so I did.  For another 10 months"

Sadie; "My most memorable feeding experience was at a wedding with my second baby.  As she was my second I was confident and didn't think anything of feeding her then and there at the reception.  Then it dawned in me that in the middle of the wedding speeches at a fancy 5 star hotel might not be the best time.  I didn't know anyone at our table and just froze.  The couple opposite me must have sensed it and smiled before pouring me a glass of water.  No one else at the table had children but afterwards they all said how lovely it was to see me breastfeeding and how happy and well behaved my children were.  It just reinforced that most people would be happy to see a breastfeeding mum to a crying baby.  I wasn't flashing my boobs at a wedding - I was feeding my daughter."


Jenny;  "I've always fed my boys in public, there's never been a point that I was nervous.  I just knew that they were hungry and so I fed them. Of course as they got older I have fed them in more and more places, often for a few minutes at a time when they just want a little comfort feed.  I have one particularly happy memory of feeding my youngest on a lane through the woods, in the rain, whilst using my other hand to play a 'stuck in the muddy puddle' game with my then 2 year old.  I still feed my 18 month old in public and have never had a negative comment."

Sian: "My public breastfeeding experiences have been utterly boring! Nobody has cared either way that I have been breastfeeding and no-one has had anything to say to me, either positive or negative. That's a good thing though, it means that where I live people are seeing it as a perfectly normal thing to do, and that is great."

Laura;  "My most memorable public feeding experience was my first.  We braved going out for lunch when my Father-in-law came to visit the new arrival, I fed the baby before we left but a painful hobble up the restaurant and waiting for food meant that he needed feeding again.  So while everyone else was tucking into burgers I fed the baby milk, I expected people to stare but in reality no one was bothered, not even my (old school) father-in-law who was sat opposite me. This just built my confidence and for the next 11 month I fed wherever and whenever."

Georgina "I have never felt nervous about feeding in public and I've never had any negative experiences. There was one occasion that sticks in my mind as a particularly lovely, positive one:- we were in BHS and my daughter, E, was a few weeks old and I was feeding her. An old man walked towards us and I braced myself, preparing for an onslaught of "you shouldn't be doing that in here" finger shaking. But as he approached he broadened his smile and came close to us - patted my daughter on the head and stuffed a pound coin into my hand, "a charm for the bairn", (giving money to babies is quite customary among older citizens in the North East of England) he didn't bat an eyelid. I have fed my daughter on the Seine in Paris, the Grand Place in Brussels, Costa Brava in Spain and all over Durham, UK where we live and I continue to do so but the need is less as my daughter is older."

Zoe; "I'll be honest all of my public feeding experiences are memorable. I've only been feeding for a short period of time and I was absolutely terrified of when the time came to feed in public alone. However I've now fed in public on numerous occasions as when baby needs feeding, she needs feeding. My most memorable feeding experience so far is my first, it was on a visit to our local town and I went into the local coffee shop. I expected everyone to stare, especially as I was sat near a large window however no-one batted an eyelid and nothing was said by anyone. This gave me more confidence and whilst I still get a little nervous in some places my confidence is growing with each feed."

Another Bun "One of my most positive feeding experiences was when I was at our local NCT group helping some mums with slings, walking around the group feeding my baby. No less than three people said to me 'oh, you're feeding her, I didn't even realise!', and they were stood right next to me. Just proves that people really don't bat an eyelid most of the time. I also had a lovely group of grans walk past me in a big department store where I had parked up on a sofa to feed, cooing over the baby and saying that she looked like she was enjoying it - she was! I'm happy to feed pretty much anywhere, anytime - after all, my babies tummy has no concept of location!

aNoviceMum: "After months of breastfeeding struggles, I increasingly felt confident and comfortable about feeding my baby without worrying much about where we were. One of my most memorable moments was breastfeeding at a park on this lovely day. I had recently been allowing my little man out of the buggy when we were in the open. It's such delight watching him exploring and discovering. 

A while after, I knew he needed a drink. I sat towards the end of the nearest bench ... made myself comfortable by positioning my loose wrap-around top to provide the cover I wanted ... I placed my son on my knees ... we discreetly latched ... and off he drank and ate whilst I tried to keep him as still as possible. I got lost in the wonder of it all, and was mostly oblivious to passersby. 

I have learnt that when my baby / toddler wants to feed, he needs to feed. It doesn't matter who is there or what is around. They will survive however they feel or whatever they think about me breastfeeding; my baby / toddler on the hand will CRY and be needlessly distressed, and I'll be more stressed than if I'd just fed him."

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For more positive feeding in public experiences please hop on over to Dad's Thoughts where you can gain further entries into the grand prize draw. Full terms and conditions can be found on the Keeping Britain Breastfeeding website. UK residents only.

World BreastFeeding Week - The Start of Our Journey

Thanks for hopping over from Make Me Happier and welcome to our post for the Keep Britain Breastfeeding Scavenger Hunt Day 1 The Start of My Journey sponsors today include  Boobie Milk with a £50 voucher, Cherub Chews who are offering a breastfeeding necklace and Loveyush who are offering a breastfeeding scarf for our Grand Prize winner. Over £700 worth of goodies are up for grabs entries via the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.

A little bit of a different post from the start of a breastfeeding journey.  Instead we want to share the start of our #PositiveAboutBF journey.  A journey to try and campaign and promote positivity surrounding breastfeeding.

It came about by speaking with Karen and helping on the administrative side of Keep Britain Breastfeeding.  That realising that there were a group of us who all want to promote and share a positive message. 

That we understood that breastfeeding is hard work and can be painful.  That breastfeeding is a choice we take every day.

That breastfeeding is something to be celebrated and that is important to tell mothers that "yes, you are doing a good job".

That we understand that not everyone can breastfeed, that not everyone wants to, but that those who choose to should be given the chance to shout about it from the rooftops.

That breastfeeding is a natural and loving thing to give our children.

That it is an achievement.

That it is about respect.

That it is about spreading the RIGHT viral message, a positive and supportive viral message.

That it is about being #PositiveAboutBF.

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Following on from my journey, please do hop over to Mum Without Wheels to see how her journey began and be in with more chances to enter the grand prize draw. Remember you need to earn 50 points to be eligible, full details can be found on the Keep Britain Breastfeeding Site.