08/08/2022
World Breastfeeding 🤱🏼 Week 2022
Whether you were able to breastfeed for 2 days or 2 years this is a time to be proud of your achievement!
I am nearly 12 months into our journey and I have been very lucky to have had such a smooth experience - so absolutely cannot compare to the heartache and struggle that so many families go through.
What I can offer is what I did to prepare, as I feel that this was the most beneficial thing I did prior to birth.
1- I started my education early, listening to podcasts, my favourite being pregnancy with . I was then able to discuss some of my immediate post-birth preferences with my midwife.
2- In my last trimester we attended a breastfeeding course. The skills I learnt here helped me for a really successful initiation of feeding. However, what was more important was that my partner was able to learn what he could do to help. So in those early days he was constantly present instructing me on my latch and helping me reposition her when needed.
3- I hand expressed colostrum from 37 weeks. I did need a bit of help with the technique- I was doing it very wrong! Although I didn’t get heaps (doesn’t correlate with supply post birth) I felt that I was able to become familiar with my breast tissue, and what I did get, I gave to my daughter in the opening weeks which took much of the pressure off whether ‘she was getting enough’.
4-I purchased silverettes! These were are an absolute godsend and I have since lent mine out to friends to help them through those pesky first few weeks.
Education and Support are key- I am sending all the love and cups of tea to the feeding mums out there!