Magical Breastfeeding Facts

There are always fact & figures, articles and new studies being published about Breastfeeding. Every now and again, I experience, remember or discover something simply magical and awe-inspiring about Breastfeeding. Here are 5 of my favourite facts, which still and always will amaze me...

1. Breastmilk heals baby when applied EXTERNALLY! 

...When my Daughter was 2 weeks old she got "sticky eye". What did the nurse suggest I do? Express a little breast milk and dab it on. I was speechless but it worked, and I've since used it on both babies to treat not only sticky/sore eyes but also nappy rash -  breastmilk is sterile and has antibacterial and antiseptic healing properties. How clever :-)

2. Magic telepathic chain of events ;-)

...As baby sucks on Mummy's nipple, a hormone called oxytocin is released which stimulates myoepithelial cells causing milk to eject from the milk sacs, this is what's called letdown. Amazingly, letdown can be stimulated by a Mummy just hearing or thinking of her baby and, mind-blowingly, I could never express unless I looked at a picture of or actually stared at my babies, which is really common apparently!

3. Beverage for all seasons

...On a recent holiday where the daily temperature reached 36 degrees, I noticed my son breastfeeding more frequently but for shorter periods, and I could tell that my milk was thinner (by his gulps). This is another brilliant trait of booby milk; it changes in consistency to suit babies needs; so in hot weather it becomes more hydrating and thirst quenching. It is also a known fact that a Mummy's breasts can detect the slightest change in her babies temperature when cuddling skin-to-skin, and they literally heat up to warm baby. I mean, WOW.

4. Babies communicate with breastmilk

...This sounds bonkers but is scientifically proven. When a baby is poorly, his/her saliva stimulates the breast which then de-codes it in order to make antibodies specific to that illness. So feeding isn't just a comfort to babies feeling under the weather, it heals them too. 

5. Natures painkiller, soother and relaxant 

...Breastmilk contains endorphins which release happy feelings in a baby, as well as the hormone mentioned earlier, oxytocin, which reduces stress, calms, and even promotes sleep. Amazingly, breastfeeding also releases a potion of hormones that help relax and instantly chill out the breastfeeding Mummy.

Here I am in a recent pic, snuggling and feeding my 11 month old baby boy. Doesn't his little face say it all, just magic ;-) 

My Breastfeeding Story Part 2

Baby Boy

When our Daughter was 16 months old, we were happily surprised to discover that I was pregnant. We'd always planned on two children so the timing was more or less perfect. The pregnancy itself was quite different to my first in that I suffered very little morning sickness, but with a very energetic 1 year old to run after as well as working in a busy Headhunting role I was always going to feel more tired! One thing I was most definitely looking forward to was breastfeeding again, my interest in it had continued where my actual feeding hadn't and I was as passionate as ever about breastfeeding, determined that I'd go beyond the 10 months I'd fed our Daughter for.

I planned to have baby number two (again, we kept the sex a surprise) at a different hospital, and due to issues following my traumatic labour with our Daughter, I was booked in for a C-Sec. As with my Daughter though, baby had other ideas and I went into labour at home at 38 weeks. The hospital agreed to perform my C-Sec anyway so in late July 2012 our beautiful Son was born (a BOY! We felt so blessed to have one of each). The experience was so much better than my first - I didn't feel any pain during the C-Sec, the doctors and Midwives were fantastic, the operation only lasted ten minutes and I held our gorgeous Son as soon as he was born. 

Keen to put him straight to the breast, I got my Husband and the lovely nurse who was with me in recovery stripping my top half so that I could get started with the joy of breastfeeding again. I was so looking forward to feeding again, the lovely sensation of him suckling, the first cuddle, the skin to skin, even the painful first few sucks, I just wanted to feel it all! After just a couple of attempts he latched on and began a hearty feed, I was totally elated.

The differences in feeding my Son and Daughter were apparent immediately, whether it was just my experience or the difference in their natural habits I don't know. My Son fed every 45 minutes for the first two days - the days I spent in hospital. Literally every 45 minutes. I'd never have believed I could feel this way but I did - I absolutely loved it. I think the positive birth experience helped, plus having total bed rest from the C-Section. I missed my little girl so much it hurt, but I was actually thankful of the time to just rest, not have to speak or be on top of everything as you have to be at home, but just to enjoy my precious new boy. I noticed a huge difference in the Midwives too (bear in mind this was a different hospital) they seemed so much more geared up to encouraging breastfeeding and really took time to sit with the Mums and help them with breastfeeds. 

I didn't feel the pain I had when feeding my Daughter at first, but I did have a problem with fast flow/over-production. I researched this and quickly found that latching my Son on, then quickly latching him off and letting the excess flow into a muslin helped. He loved his feeds right from the start, but even he didn't appreciate the rate it was shooting out and could splutter a little, poor little lamb! The fast flow stopped after around two weeks, when I was settled back in at home and starting to get around a little better. I must say, even getting over the C-Sec and the soreness afterwards wasn't as bad as the pain of my assisted delivery and bad tear. 

My gorgeous boy fed every two hours through the night and roughly that in the day for a good couple of months. I was tired but unlike with our first, I was expecting the sleepless nights (how much of a shocker are they to a first time Mummy & Daddy?! Nothing could have prepared me for the tiredness!). I guess when you have two you sort of just get on with it! Our Daughter was brilliant with her little brother from the start, she adored him and was fascinated by this little baby that was ours to keep! I'd explained to her that the baby in Mummy's tummy would drink from my boobs, so it didn't come as a shock to her or confuse her, and thankfully, she happily accepted when baby was "drinking some booby". 

I didn't have the 'leaking from the boob the other side' to the epic extent I did the 1st time around, but I think that may be down to preparation and, again, regular feeding and offering of the breast. The nights were made much easier by my discovery of and research around co-sleeping. I know it isn't for everyone but it really suited us and I so, so wish I'd tried it the first time around, because although (in my opinion) some babies just sleep better than others (and my Daughter was not a good sleeper!) I think it helps massively and every bit helps when it comes to sleep with a newborn. Our Daughter would wake in her cot and even though I was by her side in seconds (her cot was in our room for over a year) she'd already be upset, and then I'd take her into the nursery to feed her in the glider-chair and then I'd be ages settling her afterwards. It makes me so mad at myself to think of how utterly knackered I was when I could have saved so much time and sleep! Basically, baby boy slept (still sleeps actually!) with me. I absolutely adore it and I know he does too; I literally sleep with a thin top on (or topless) and as soon as he even moves to want a feed my boobs are there for him. It takes some practice as you feed lying down, but oh its magical, I doze through feeds and 99% of the time he goes straight to sleep after feeding, it's so peaceful, just beautiful, and as I mentioned, I'm miffed (love that word) that I missed out on it with our Daughter. Hearing those excited first few gulps and feeling his chubby little hands hugging my boobs and then relaxing as he dozes off into milk-drunkenness, all in the dark still of the night, is awesome.

With a toddler at home, we were going out and about and getting on with things as soon as I was able, and breastfeeding in public just happened because it had to. My first public feed was at a soft play centre when he was 3 weeks old. Whether I'm just more confident, or it was necessity or a bit of both, the public feeding definitely helped me to keep up the regular skin to skin contact and keep any sore engorgement at bay. 

Friends and family have from very early on been witness to me feeding regularly (he loves his milk!) and I'm actually proud to be whipping them out so frequently ;-) we moved to a new area in February and I quickly joined three local playgroups...I'm sure that I must be known as 'that woman that has always got a baby on her boob', as my Son still likes to have a drink around every two hours, or if he's tired, or teething, or fed up. He doesn't feed for long in the day but he does feed regularly. With my Daughter she was very 'routine' and her feeds were spaced very evenly. 

My Husband started a new job just after our Daughters 1st Birthday, and as such we were in a better position financially when our Son was born. It was tough as I did love my job and especially loved my colleagues (I met my best friend at work) but when the time came closer to return, I just couldn't do it. I had to go back when my Daughter was 7 months and I totally hated leaving her every day, even though she was looked after by close family. Returning to work was a nail in the coffin to my breastfeeding first time around and I was determined that nothing would stop me this time, especially with no job to take me away from him 8 hours a day. 

Happily, I'm still feeding at 11 months and he shows no signs of stopping, I look forward to feeding him on his big day later in the month, one year old and breastfeeding, how special! 

That is my breastfeeding journey so far. People close to me know how passionately I feel about normalizing and encouraging breastfeeding; I do hope that my story will continue in some way for many years; I would like to get involved in breastfeeding support when I have more time on my hands, for example. Thank you for reading my story, I would love to hear your thoughts and read others' stories too. 

My Breastfeeding Story

As my next two Blog Installments I thought I'd write about my journey so far with Breastfeeding; not least because I have found it compelling and heartwarming to read other women's stories from within the parent/breastfeeding-blogging world. I know that I'll find it cathartic and sentimental to document my own experience here; I hope that you enjoy my story. Here is part one.

Baby Girl

My first pregnancy, back in late 2009/2010, was such a wonderful time. I look back on it with joy; my Husband and I were so very excited and happy. We'd always planned to have children and began trying for a baby straight after our September 2009 wedding, and despite worry around my fertility (a ruptured ovary in my early teens and bouts of PCOS) we discovered I was pregnant on my Mums Birthday in the December. 

I am a meticulous planner and I had everything mapped out in my head; from the nursery design to our baby's first little outfits (all washed and ironed by the time I was 7 months pregnant). I subscribed to two pregnancy and baby magazines, went to the baby show, the works. We didn't wish to find out the sex of the baby which added to the excitement and sheer wonder of it all. Breastfeeding was always my intention and although I'd heard and read so many stories about women not being able to, I told myself (and anyone who asked) that I'd try my best as breastfeeding was my number one choice, but that I wouldn't beat myself up if I couldn't do it. Little did I know how much breastfeeding would come to mean to me (and literally little did I know about breastfeeding generally! One of the reasons I feel so strongly about campaigning for breastfeeding is that it is so un-talked about...so not seen in day to day popular culture - why for example does a celebrity breastfeeding in public/speaking about it cause so much excitement and debate? I digress...)

My Mum has always talked openly about her own breastfeeding, so we discussed it quite a bit whilst I was pregnant. Mum fell pregnant with my brother whilst still breastfeeding me when I was 9 months old (the doctor had told her breastfeeding was natures contraceptive ;-)). I can see now that my Mum's own attitude towards breastfeeding really set the foundation for my own choice, and for her support and advice I am extremely grateful. She also told me that it was "toe curlingly" uncomfortable for her at first - and thank heavens she did - as I knew that I had to get through that stage and that it wasn't my fault, abnormal or wrong if I felt pain initially. 

The next positive influence came at an NHS run ante-natal class; a local Breastfeeding Group called Cradles visited one of the sessions and gave some advice and resource on Breastfeeding. I remember being surprised that my home town had such a group and, ashamedly, I was shocked that the women looked so normal; they looked just like me...I think that society kind of suggests that breastfeeding is a little hippy-ish or somewhat niche. I feel ashamed for thinking that, and I'm so grateful to Cradles for reaching out to pregnant women in the way that they do. The class did touch on breastfeeding in itself, but seeing these women in person and hearing them talk about breastfeeding so openly was such an eye opener. 

Being the organised Mummy-To-Be I was, I had read up on the importance of colostrum (the first, thicker milk that Mothers produce) and skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth. I had also heard that it was common practice for some Mothers to take first-feed baby formula and sterilised bottles with them into hospital...I knew that I wanted to give breastfeeding my all, so I didn't pack any formula paraphernalia and I wrote into my birth plan (on my hospital notes, which you take when you go to have the baby) that I wanted immediate skin-to-skin contact and that I wanted to breastfeed as soon after the birth as possible (there are endless benefits for the baby in doing this).  

18 days before my due date (and just a week after finishing work!) my waters broke at home. We went into hospital 2 hours later to discover that I was 5cm dialated (baaahh!) and 22 agony filled hours later (things slowed down and I ended up having an assisted birth, very painful for me and baby) my beautiful Daughter was born. I'd had a spinal block, so although skin-to-skin was possible, it didn't last for long as I was layed flat and couldn't feel my arms very much, also I had to be stitched whilst in theatre, so my Husband held our baby girl for the first 45 minutes of her life. It was probably an hour and a half before I got to breastfeed her; a nurse hand expressed some colostrum onto the end of my nipple (I remember a friend advising me to let a Midwife or Nurse do this) and my girl suckled gently for a minute or so. It was a beautiful feeling and I remember feeling very proud - I'd done it! 

My baby was very niggly as she clearly had a headache and sore bruises from the birth, and naively, I expected her to sleep that first night! I did breastfeed her every time she cried through her first night, but looking back I probably wasn't feeding her for long enough as I now think that she was so tired she was latching off through sheer exhaustion then waking sore and hungry; this makes me really sad. It pains me to say this but I didn't find the Midwives very helpful (I won't name the hospital)...I watched them fetch formula at the drop of a hat for those new Mums requesting it and I heard them trying to talk one girl into trying again with breastfeeding but (and probably due to them being so busy, to be fair) as I was happy/determined to breastfeed I was sort of left to it, even though I was petrified, in agony and overwhelmingly clueless about this little teeny person before me. I think - knowing what I do now - that I should have been advised to put my baby to the breast more frequently. 

After one night in the hospital I was determined to go home, I was strongly advised not to as I'd had a tough time giving birth and had lost blood etc but I felt that my baby and myself would be better cared for and more relaxed at home. I had breastfed every one to two hours through the night in hospital following her birth and throughout the morning - I had read up on breastfeeding on demand, which I was planning on doing. 

My Husband was an absolute angel, and I credit my success with breastfeeding in huge part to him. Not only did he let me sleep when our baby slept and feed me (literally bring to me in bed, on a tray) delicious, nutritious meals, but he was there by my side for every single feed in the early days; to hold my hand and help wind/settle the baby after every feed. A close friend of mine who had a baby a few months before me had said that she was too tired to keep her food/energy levels up in those early days and I'm convinced that this is needed to keep up that all important supply (as well as bed rest and very regular offering of the breast). 

There was a day within that first hazy, crazy, sleep-deprived week that I just could not get our baby to latch on and feed. She was crying, clearly hungry, really upset and I was so very tired and angry with myself. The early feeds really hurt me at the point of latch on and let down (when the milk starts to flow as a response to the baby suckling) and, in desperation, I sent my husband out to buy formula. That's how easy it could have gone another way (I strongly believe in supply and demand, the more top ups and extra feeds with formula, the less breastmilk a Mother will produce). Whilst he was out, baby latched on and had a really good feed, and a few months later those ready-made bottles remained untouched in a rarely-used kitchen cupboard, a reminder of my determination. 

I didn't breastfeed in public with my daughter, and nor did I attend any breastfeeding groups, although I did feed her a few times at a baby massage course, where other Mums were breastfeeding too. I learned so much about the emotional side to feeding and my continuation past one, three and six months was self-perpetuating, it spurned me on to learn more about the science and cultural side of things; I immediately noticed that I was in the minority in exclusively breastfeeding and it dawned on me that this wonderful, bonding, natural, free feeding tool was totally overshadowed in popular modern culture by formula feeding. I totally believe in a woman's right to choose and I have no problem with formula at all. But it did and does sadden me that unlike in other countries, breastfeeding isn't the norm. My Health Visitor noticed my interest and suggested I apply for a Breastfeeding Support Worker role, but my imminent return to work put paid to that. 

I went back to work, through necessity and not choice, when our Daughter was 7 months old, and although I expressed regularly, she drank other fluids in the daytime from around that time, just breastfeeding at night. I remember feeling so glad to have our special cuddle time, just me and her, a magical spell holding us together, eyes locked, after being apart all day. These beautiful evening/night feeds continued until she was ten months old. I missed breastfeeding so much, I actually cried myself to sleep once thinking about it. But I was so pleased to have fed for so long and I do believe that my baby girl's health was so good in her first year due to my feeding.

Part two will follow soon, the story of my son and his breastfeeding - still going strong at 11 months ;-)