To be honest I didn’t have huge feelings about breastfeeding before I did it, I just knew I would do it as that is what you did! As a daughter to a Health Visitor I knew from a young age that it was promoted to be the better option for the baby. Then as a children’s nurse, I suppose I knew it had some health benefits. But, in all honesty I thought if my body were to be able to make milk for my baby then that is what I would give them and I’d save a bob or two on formula. I had no idea at the time of the health benefits to myself or my babies.
I went along to the NCT breastfeeding class with my new friends. I remember learning about a good latch but not more than that! And then at 38 weeks my first baby was born. After a traumatic delivery, he fed pretty much straight away and I felt positive about our journey. Then he just continued to feed and feed and feed and was very unsettled.
Very early on I noticed a tongue tie and I was pretty sure it was affecting my latch. Over several days I could see that breastfeeding was being affected. His latch was not strong, he kept falling off and he wanted to feed constantly which then increased my supply!
After quite a struggle we managed to get an NHS appointment to get it cut just a few days before Christmas at just 10 days old. I felt a difference straight away and thought all our issues would magically go away!! But no, he continued to feed a lot and vomit a lot! I remember getting through 5-15 muslins per day.
But I persevered. I was lucky my NCT group (just the 3 of us) all breastfed too so I had some support. At 6 months, sadly it all just became unmanageable. My baby became breast averse, his reflux was so bad he was in pain and despite cranial osteopathy, reflux medication and going dairy free I just couldn’t get him back on the breast. I wish I had known about IBCLC’s then!
Looking back I should have pumped after going dairy free and tried him on that first, not just the disgusting dairy free formula I was given. But his vomiting almost stopped and I began to have a happier, calmer baby. I had done 6 months and at the time I knew I had done my best.
