Breastfeeding feeding should be the most natural thing in the world for a mum and her newborn but in practice it can be very different.
Traumas during childbirth, lack of proper guidance, stress and lack of support can all contribute to difficulties in implementing and continuing breastfeeding.
As a mum of 4 children who were all breastfed for differing amounts of time it proved both rewarding and easy or difficult and stressful at different times.
My firstborn was only fed for 4 months as I introduced an expressed bottle too early to allow dad to feed the baby and she suffered from nipple confusion and hence screamed every time I tried to breastfeed her.
My second was never offered a bottle and fed easily and successfully for one year.
My third was a challenge to start feeding but once this was established she breastfed happily and also took a bottle of expressed milk whenever the need arose without any problems.
My fourth baby on the other hand was difficult to feed from birth, as he had difficulty latching on, didn't seem to enjoy the closeness involvedin breastfeeding and eventually at 3 months got to the point of refusing to latch on altogether and had to be bottle fed, which was a turning point for both him and me.
He was much happier and I was much less stressed! I write this article to encourage new moms to do their very best to breastfeed their babies as the benefits of breast milk are proven and well-known, but also to let other moms know that it isn't always plain sailing and it is OK to give up after a fair try.
That sort of statement doesn't sit well with breastfeeding enthusiasts but the truth is that for some moms for one reason or another it just becomes too difficult.
Having said that I would like to share some tips to help make success at breastfeeding more likely.
1.
Make sure you get shown how to actually get you baby to latch on from the beginning.
Reading up on the subject and looking at diagrams before will help, but a qualified breastfeeding support nurse can be of huge help in showing a new mum how to get a baby properly latched on and what to look for when the baby is feeding.
I needed this support each time I had a baby as each one is different and a moms shape and size can change also.
2.
Surround yourself with people who support your bid to give your baby the best start.
A supportive partner, parent or close friend is a big help if things are a little tough some day.
If those closest to you do not support breastfeeding it will be much more difficult to persevere with it.
3.
Have meals prepared before the baby's birth if possible to allow you more time to learn and get comfortable feeding a new baby.
It can take up a lot of time at the start.
4.
Be realistic about the amount of time you will spend feeding your baby in the first days and weeks.
Their stomach is approximately the size of a walnut so cannot take in too much at once so they need regular feeds.
This is wonderful bonding time and promotes closeness between mum and baby.
5.
Be aware that there will be days when your baby may seem to feed constantly.
This does not mean your milk is not enough for him or her but rather means your baby is growing and needs more milk so by breastfeeding more they are stimulating more production so there will be more milk available to them at a feed.
So it won't last long.
It will soon settle back to normal.
6.
Remember that feeding on demand is better for baby and mum so no rigid timetables! The supply is always there at the right temperature when your baby wants it so just go ahead and feed as necessary.
If you are out in public you can still breastfeed discretely by wearing a top or t-shirt that you can lift up and having a light sheet to cover the baby with.
7.
Above all, remember that it won't last forever! The baby soon settles into a more established pattern and will go for longer periods between feeds.
By breastfeeding you have given your baby a gift that no one else in the world could give.
A wonderful gift of love