Friday, April 16, 2010
Jenny’s Story
When I made the decision to breastfeed my daughter it was a choice made on the basis of the superior nutritional benefits of breastmilk, the benefits of antibodies, the fact that scientifically it was proven to be better than formula. I had seen my older cousins breastfeed their babies themselves when I was a teenager but I didn’t know much about the practical side of it, or how long you should breastfeed.
When I was thirty-four weeks pregnant with my daughter I was diagnosed with a placenta praevia, told I would have a C-section which would be under general anaesthetic. My daughter was delivered at thirty-eight weeks, a gorgeous bundle of 6lb 2oz, she had been given a little formula after the delivery and was sleepy but after three days pestering the midwives for help latching her on, pumping and giving her colostrum in a cup at one stage, I brought her home where it became much easier to latch her on in our comfy surroundings with my husband’s help for the night feeds when he would lift her up to me and change her after her feed. He knew nothing about breastfeeding but was happy to support me.
After her slow start she was a great feeder and despite me getting nipple thrush, which I struggled with until she was ten weeks, she rapidly gained weight and was 12lb by her three month check. Once I had conquered the thrush, feeding was plain sailing, so easy for going out, wonderful for comforting her when she started to teethe, fantastic for travelling anywhere, and as she got a little older, brilliant for soothing the inevitable bumps that happened as she learned to sit, crawl, stand and walk. By then she enjoyed trying all kinds of food but it was wonderful to know she was still getting lots of calories from my milk as well as the antibodies that kept us strangers to our GP except for vaccination times when the GP would comment on what a lovely, healthy baby she was.
Breastfeeding was no longer about just nutrition or the added benefits of antibodies but about love, security, trust, a growing bond that became our way of parenting – my husband, completely ignorant before was now a strong advocate, my daughter’s health, happiness and confidence would convince anyone! By the time she was two years old she was feeding only before going to bed, then not every night and finally not at all. Our second child was on the way. We had no doubts as to how we would feed him, love him, and help him grow. Having joined the La Leche League when my daughter was nine months old, I knew all the advantages for him and me, in theory as well as in practice. I had the support of like-minded friends, somewhere to turn if I needed practical help at any stage and I was very happy to start a new breastfeeding adventure with our son who turned out to be a handsome bruiser of 9lb 5oz. He was born naturally and latched on without even having to get anyone’s help. After two and a half years of breastfeeding my daughter it had become a familiar practice and at least one of us knew what we were doing! Aged thirteen months now, he is a great toddler and himself and his big sister live and play happily together almost all the time!
I wish more mums would breastfeed their babies and continue to do so for at least the first year. The first six weeks aren’t easy, people say it’s like learning to drive but it’s so incredibly worthwhile, there is nothing more wonderful than looking down at your darling baby contentedly breastfeeding.
Posted on 04/16 at 11:48 AM
