Tag: mothers

While it hasn’t always been easy or comfortable (who knew a thrush infection on your nipples would feel like razor blades?!) and there’ve been two years of constant night waking, Ive come to really enjoy this special time-out we share together. It’s an intimate bonding session, it heals wounds, alleviates fear, reconnects us when we’ve been apart, sends him into a peaceful secure sleep and wakes him gently to enjoy his day.

And for me its quiet time. Sometimes we both fall asleep. It relaxes me. It re-centres me. Sometimes its just a 5 minute snack that helps me through the day- its that headspace I need to be a better mom.

I got off to a rocky start breastfeeding: latching seemed to go well, but after 18 hours of my baby still not peeing on day 3, I had to really fight to get a formula top-up (as the one experienced nurse who’d prescribed it had left for the night).

After all the crying, and being shouted at and being told I was ruining my sons life, and after the last 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding (which was sometimes so painful, wow!) I believe two things strongly: breastfeeding is one of, if not the most beautiful, expressions of the world and relationship at peace; and formula is not from the devil, or the thing that disqualifies you from being a loving, tenacious mom.
I hope with all the championing of breastfeeding (which is needed!) we don’t drown out cases where formula has really really helped.

I am so enjoying your book. It had me up last night, reading through the many amazing and powerful and sometimes heartbreaking stories. Also, it made me properly write out my feeding journey sinceDaniels birth. So meeting you and getting your book has been truly healing, and opened me up to the moms all around me.

Breastfeeding was a big challenge and my baby ended up in NICU after his first week because he lost so much weight ( due to lack of breastmilk). I now breastfeed and use formula as a combination. Im glad I can still breastfeed in some small way as its so good for bonding with my child and also for breastmilk’s health benefits.

My son was born at 31 weeks at 1.1kg after I had severe preeclampsia. I really struggled to get him to latch, he was so little and sleepy. So, I started pumping full-time and bottle feeding, it was such a mission! I pumped at three-hour intervals throughout the night. I offered my breast to my child each day and eventually got to full-time  breastfeeding at 4,5 months.

It was such a lifesaver for our bonding, I finally felt like he was my son, it was so healing. Ive really struggled with my confidence, I feel like the culture around me is anti-breastfeeding. I really treasure my friends who are breastfeeding – we can share our journey together.

I know now that breastfeeding has been my greatest tool to comfort, put to sleep and nurture my son and I hope more mothers get to experience this special bond.