Breastfeeding - How did I achieve that!

Never in a million years did I ever think that I would be writing a post on breastfeeding, especially not one following a year of successful breastfeeding, wow I can't believe it, one whole year. When I had Lottie I never planned to breastfeed her, you can read about our journey here.

This week also marks world breastfeeding awareness week and I was very fortunate to be asked by Bravado if I would consider reviewing one of their new releases, and of course being a big fan of the brand, I agreed immediately. I already have a couple of their bras and know how comfortable and easy it is to breastfeed in them.

The latest release by Bravado is called Embrace, this is what they say about it:

"The Essential Embrace Nursing Bra is the most comfortable, supportive, yet lightweight bra that you will ever wear while pregnant or nursing.

• Revolutionary patent pending Bravado Dynatex™ fabric - combines premium cotton & luxurious microfiber all in one

• Breathable & seamless fabric - provides added comfort

• Four-way stretch - fabric moulds to your changing breast shape

• Slimming back panels - Bravado Dynatex™ fabric gives you a smooth look

• Lightweight and wire-free, yet strong & supportive - even to a L/M cup

• Smooth and wrinkle free - great to wear under your favorite shirt

• Full drop away bra cup - important for skin to skin contact

• Complimentary bra extender included

• Proprietary easy open and close clips"

As soon as the bra came through the post I immediately put it on; when I wear it, I do not feel like I have a bra on as its so comfortable and light to wear. The fit is perfect for me and what really impresses me the most is that in the future, when I am no longer breastfeeding Lottie, the maternity bra can be turned into a normal bra! All the bits to do this are included in the pack. The bra retails at £34, which I think is reasonable as it can be used after breastfeeding too.

I love the detail on the straps.

The only negative for me with the bra is that it is only available in 3 colours black, white or chai; I would love to see more bright and feminine colours added to the range in the future.


Disclaimer: I was sent a Bravado Bra for free to try out, however all opinions and thoughts are my own.

Breastfeeding: My Experience, Good & Bad!

As this is breastfeeding awareness week, I thought it would be a good opportunity for me to share my own experience, including good & bad experiences, formula feeding and the vast amount of emotions and tears that have been shed along my journey.

Breastfeeding Lottie

Before falling pregnant with my first daughter Ruby, I was never really aware about breastfeeding until my midwife talked to me about it at an antenatal appointment. I had never seen anyone breastfeed a baby and to be honest, the thought of having a baby attached to me made me feel a bit sick. Looking back I now realise that I was lacking in body confidence and I had been surrounded by friends and family who all bottle-fed; so I saw breastfeeding as abnormal.

The midwives that I saw antenatally, tried to offer me some advice on breastfeeding and I firmly refused it; breastfeeding was something I was not going to do! I remember attending a private antenatal class and the teacher was horrified that I wanted to talk about safe bottle feeding and sterilising etc; I felt like I was a bad mummy, I was made to feel really small.

The NHS antenatal class was a bit better, I was not pushed into the corner and made to feel small, but I was only given a leaflet explaining everything; I still do not think this is good enough! There is so much emphasis being placed on breastfeeding. It is an individual choice for each mother, so why are the health care professionals only giving out advice on one side? or if they do, its only a leaflet; whereas they seem to be able to talk about breastfeeding non stop... and don't get me started on the whole breast is best slogan as that really bugs me too as I believe that happy mum equals a happy baby; sometimes breast isn't for the best which certainly was the case when I had Ruby.

I had planned to give birth to Ruby in the local midwife led unit, however when I went there shortly after my waters went, they said I should go home as I was only in early labour! As it turns out I was not, I was just very relaxed and chilled out! Ruby was ultimately born at the hospital and I don't really have anything bad to say about the time I spent in there; however I knew that as soon as I was up, showered, dressed and had something to eat, as long as Ruby had, had a feed, I could go home; so that is what I did. I was happy with the decision that I made to bottle feed Ruby, right up until my milk came in around day 3 or 4 where filled with emotions, I tried to breastfeed her. With so little information and a very hungry and unsettled Ruby, things did not really work out. I did have a fantastic midwife who tried to help me to get Ruby to latch on and she did do this a few times but I hated it, it made me feel so uncomfortable and yucky. However I did realise the benefit of breast milk, so I started to express milk and put it into a bottle; this was a very good compromise as I didn't feel my body was being invaded and Ruby was still receiving breast milk. As I was a first time mother of a newborn baby, I was not as prepared as well as I thought I was for the challenges and emotions it would bring. There was so much to learn and it was such a big steep learning curve. I was so tired and drained and could not sustain expressing and feeding Ruby, so I switched back to formula. Ruby changed and so did I when she started on formula, she was more content, we were able to establish a routine and I felt more relaxed; yes I do still look back and wish I had breastfed her more but I can't change the past and it was the right thing for us at the time.

Fast forward 3 years and I am pregnant with Lottie; to be honest I approached breastfeeding much the same way as I did with Ruby, I did not want to do it, firstly based on my experience with Ruby and then also my body confidence issues. Lottie was a planned home-birth; I really had to fight for a home-birth because my midwife wanted my iron levels to be at a certain level; I had read the latest NICE guidelines and knew what my rights were;  my iron at the time was over their guidelines, so I was prepared to challenge and fight for a home-birth. I knew that I might need to be transferred to hospital in case something were to happen to me or Lottie, but I was prepared for this. I had only left Ruby for one night by that point, and that was when I was in hospital suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum. I did not want to be away from her or my home comforts. I am still amazed nearly a year on that I had such an amazing experience and gave birth to Lottie at home; I think I will be buzzing off it for some time, it really was the most amazing thing I have ever done and you can read more about it here.

After Lottie was born, I started off by bottle feeding her, however by day three I was filled with emotions again, much the same as I was after Ruby's birth; I rang up a lovely lady from La Leche League and cried down the phone explaining what was going on. I offloaded all of my concerns and she was so helpful and non-judgemental, so I decided to try and breastfeed Lottie; she actually latched! I could not believe it! I was still quite wary of my body confidence and really was not sure what to do, so I decided to give her expressed breast milk for some feeds and breastfeed for some of the other feeds. I took the lead and made the decision to feed her by whatever method felt best, as and when she needed feeling. I knew that if I was stressed about feeding her, it would make her wound up and it would be a vicious cycle. If I'm being honest, the main reason I became more determined to give breast milk to Lottie was purely a finance one, I was aware that formula did not come cheap and if I could express enough milk, then less formula would mean more money to buy nice girlie clothes! However over the coming weeks something changed. I can't remember when, but she was no longer having breast milk in a bottle but taking it directly from me!

Breastfeeding Lottie has not been an easy journey, we have come up against so many barriers and I have been unfortunate to suffer with mastitis twice; but we have overcome it all! I have been more informed this time and have had someone who has supported me and given me the confidence to carry on. At around 7 weeks, Lottie was diagnosed with reflux; I can honestly say that this was a really hard time, one of the hardest parenting challenges I have ever had to deal with. I had a baby that screamed all day, yes you read that right, all day! I still don't think people believed me that it really was the bad; there was no let up. I still do not know to this day how I coped, but I fought with all my strength to get her onto the right treatment and did not back down until her reflux was under control. I even had to go dairy free for two weeks to check that Lottie did not have a cows milk protein intolerance; this was incredibly hard for me to do and my family were concerned that I would waste away!

I have overcome all the hurdles, well Lottie and I have; I feel we have worked as a team and achieved it together. I can honestly say that breastfeeding has increased my body confidence and I am incredibly proud that 11 months on, Lottie is still being breastfed; granted its now only a few times a day, but I do miss the frequency of feeds and snuggles. I feel that I have bonded with Lottie in a different way to Ruby, I feel a lot more in tune with her and she feels more connected to me. For anyone reading this, I would just say what I have said before, that I strongly believe that a happy mum equals a happy baby and if you did not succeed at breastfeeding first time round and are now looking to do again, then try it, you might find that all goes well. However if breastfeeding is not for you, it does not make you a bad mother! As long as both you and your baby are happy and loved then that is all that matters.

I never thought I would say this but I can honestly say I have enjoyed it and I will definitely feel sad when Lottie will no longer want her mummy milk.
 

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Don't forget I'm running a giveaway at the moment where you could win a Breastvest, more details can be found here.

Breastfeeding – Tips to help new mothers

Today's blog post comes from Anna, a good friend of mine who works at La Leche. As far I am concerned Anna is my go to person for anything breastfeeding related and she has helped me tremendously whilst dealing with my own personal challenges during my breastfeeding journey. I asked Anna if she would share some tips and advice to any new mum who is considering breastfeeding her baby.

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Many pregnant women are bombarded with information about breastfeeding, so much so that they can end up feeling anxious, worried and doubtful that they will be able to breastfeed their baby. Here are a few basic tips to help new mothers as they and their babies learn to breastfeed.

• Going along to a breastfeeding support group before the birth can be a great help. It gives women a chance to talk to breastfeeding mothers about how they overcame any problems. If difficulties do arise after the birth the new mothers already have some knowledge and know they have someone they can call. Women do not always get enough time with healthcare professionals and if not redressed small initial problems can get worse and a new mother starts to doubt her ability to breastfeed. It’s at this time that mother-to-mother help from a breastfeeding supporter can make all the difference. 

• Breastfeeding is a learning curve, mother and baby need to get to know each other and what is normal for them. Many women worry they are doing something wrong because their baby does not behave in the way they expected. Rules and regulations have no place in learning to breastfeed and can inhibit a mother from doing what feels right. What works for one mother and baby may not be right for another, and can even vary from feed to feed. A good suggestion is to check your baby’s lower jaw has plenty of room to move, his chin can sink into your breast and his head is tipped back a bit so he can open his mouth wide. Milk is mostly in the ducts in your breast so the baby needs a good big mouthful of breast beyond the nipple; this makes it comfortable. Some women like to support their breast when nursing, but try to keep the “lower jaw fingers” out baby’s way. Aim the nipple towards the back of the roof of baby’s mouth. 

• If a baby has not been too disturbed by birth interventions s/he may find the best position by her/himself. This will vary according to the baby’s own mouth shape and the mother’s breast, nipple and areola shape and size. It helps to breastfeed as soon as possible but sleepy babies may need some encouragement. If you become concerned he is not latching on ask about expressing your milk until he gets the hang of it to stimulate your supply. Give via a spoon, cup or syringe, but still offer the breast. 

• Babies have very small stomachs. A one day old baby’s stomach capacity is about 5-7 ml or about the size of a small marble and it does not stretch to hold much more. Colostrum, the milk produced in the first few days after birth, is just the right amount for a baby’s first feedings. It contains especially high concentrations of antibodies to help a baby’s immune system mature after birth. By day 3 a baby’s stomach is about 22-27 ml or the size of a shooter marble. Small frequent feedings ensure that your baby takes in all the milk he needs and help to make the transition from being drip-fed nonstop via the umbilical cord, to gradually have more separated, bigger feeds. Small frequent feeds also help to prevent engorgement as your breasts swell and enlarge when your milk comes in. Engorgement decreases as a woman’s body adjusts but gentle massage or applying moist warmth will help if the baby is struggling to latch on. 

• The more you feed the more milk you produce. Breastmilk is a drink too. Even if your breasts feel empty there’s always some milk there and frequent feeding increases milk production. Babies nurse for comfort as well as food. Night feeds are important as they help to establish and maintain your supply and avoid engorgement. Wet and dirty nappies are a good indicator of how much milk your baby is taking, and weight gain should always be measured from the lowest weight. Once at home it takes time for you and your baby to get to know each other. Breastmilk is not just about getting food into a baby, it is part of the mothering package. The early days of breastfeeding can be intensive and challenging but as babies and mothers learn and grow together breastfeeding usually becomes a very enjoyable and important part of mothering for both. 

For more detailed support go to www.laleche.org.uk

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Don't forget I'm running a giveaway at the moment where you could win a Breastvest, more details can be found here.

Breastfeeding Awareness Week - Giveaway

Today marks the start of breastfeeding awareness week; I want to first start of by saying that, from  my own personal experience I understand both points of view on breast feeding. My first daughter Ruby was formula fed and my second daughter Lottie is still being breastfed at 11 months old. I do not want to cause a debate over breast vs formula milk as I truly believe that how you chose to feed your baby is a very personal choice that takes into account a lot of different factors; I am very much of the opinion that a happy mum equals a happy baby regardless of what milk they are on.

I have been very generously offered a Breastvest to give away to one lucky reader; the winner gets to chose if they would like it in black or white.

"Breastvest is an ingenious breastfeeding accessory that can turn any top into a breastfeeding top! Not only is this product perfect for breastfeeding mums who want to keep their post natal tummy covered whilst breastfeeding in public, it means mums can get straight back into their favourite outfits without having to spend lots of money on nursing tops!"              

All you need to do to enter is describe your thoughts on breastfeeding, using only three words! Please leave your three words in the comments section of this blog post and be sure to fill your details into the Rafflecopter widget; Each additional step you complete is another entry into the raffle. Terms and Conditions are also on there and the final closing date is Midnight on Saturday 30th June 2013.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

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There are a number of give-aways being offered as part of this campaign, for a chance to win more goodies, please checkout the following sites:

Lauren at http://realhousewifeofsuffolk.blogspot.co.uk/ will be giving away a Medela Breast Care Set and Calma - The Breast Care Set comes packaged in a pretty yellow make-up bag so it’s really easy to pop in an over-night bag. Inside Mums will find a tube of PureLan nipple cream, 15 disposable breast pads and 2 soothing hydrogel pads for sore nipples

Luschka at Diary of a First Child http://www.diaryofafirstchild.com/ is giving away a Medela Swing - It’s not the most glamorous of products but a breastpump is pretty much essential for any mum wanting to breastfeed. They may well plan to exclusively breastfeed, but in the first few days when their milk comes in, a pump can provide great relief. It’s helpful for boosting supply, and ensuring that milk ducts don’t get blocked. Later on if mum is planning to go back to work she can express so her baby can still benefit from the nutrients in breastmilk. Medela’s flagship pump the Swing is super-efficient, and thanks to their 2 phase technology, that mimics the way a baby naturally feeds mums can get more milk in less time. The Swing has won numerous awards including a Which?

Tracy at White Lily Green is giving away a Bravado bra http://whitelilygreen.blogspot.co.uk/ - A good nursing bra is a must-have for any mum planning to breastfeed. Not only does it offer great support, it allows baby quick and easy access to the breast. Bravado’s best-selling Body Silk Seamless bra is smooth, supportive and exceptionally comfortable. It comes in a selection of bright and neutral colours and best of all can be converted into a regular bra once you’ve finished feeding

Katie at Chubs and Love is giving away a Thrupenny Bits pillow http://chubsandlove.com/blog/ - This gorgeous breastfeeding pillow from Thrupenny Bits makes feeding super comfortable for both mum and baby. It’s a handy size too so mums can take it with them wherever they go. Available in several gorgeous designs, this is something all breastfeeding mummies will be lusting after! It’s not just a pillow though, once breastfeeding is over mums can simply remove the filling and it becomes a lovely bag!

Rachel at Three years and Home is giving away a babasling http://threeyearsandonestonethenhome.com/ - theBabaSling is a stylish and practical sling that allows mums to not only keep their baby close at all times, but also breastfeed discreetly. Breastfeeding in public can be a little daunting especially in the early days, but theBabaSling offers mums two different positions in which they can nurse confidently. Beyond this there are three other ways to carry baby as they grow, and Dad can get involved too