Black Breastfeeding week is celebrated during the last week of August. Its aim is to give voice to Black women’s voices and lived experiences which have historically been underrepresented. In La Leche League, stories matter. Sharing our stories connects us with something bigger — the global … [Read more...] about I needed a likeminded community
Stories and Conversations
A Breastfeeding Trailblazer
I had just turned 20 when I had my first baby. I went into labour the night before my own birthday, which is on November 1st, and my baby was finally born on November 3rd. I lived with my mom for the last two months of pregnancy. I was born in Birmingham. My mom’s background is Pakistani, … [Read more...] about A Breastfeeding Trailblazer
Breastfeeding at last!
Baby Y did not latch on and feed from the breast until he was four months old. He only ever drank from one breast, and ended up being mixed fed. But this is the story of how I successfully breastfed him until he was nearly three years old. Y was my third child. I had desperately wanted to … [Read more...] about Breastfeeding at last!
Russell’s Breastfeeding Journey
Russ’s antenatal diagnosis It had been a difficult six weeks. My father-in-law was in intensive care. There hadn’t been space to feel excited about being pregnant and we were emotionally drained. I thought we'd had the all clear at our 20 week scan when the sonographer told us we were having a … [Read more...] about Russell’s Breastfeeding Journey
Feeding with a Breast Injury
When my daughter was six months old, and exclusively breastfeeding, we were both involved in a car crash. I was sitting in the back of the car with her when the crash happened. Another driver turned across our path on a national speed limit road. The airbags went off, but there were none in … [Read more...] about Feeding with a Breast Injury
My Pride and Joy at Breastfeeding my Baby
This is my second pregnancy. With my first son, I mixed fed. Our first son was born at 38 weeks but weighed just 5lbs, and after his final health visitor weighing, I was told that I needed to mix feed in order to help him gain more weight. By the time he was 9 months old, I rarely offered the breast … [Read more...] about My Pride and Joy at Breastfeeding my Baby
Breastfeeding Against the Odds
Editor’s note: Some details have been changed to protect the identity of the mother in this piece. I am writing this in the hope that it might help anyone who is going through or has been through abuse. I want them to know that they are not on their own and they can still have a lovely, close, … [Read more...] about Breastfeeding Against the Odds
Nursing after Breast Cancer
I was diagnosed with breast cancer aged 29, a lot younger than the typical breast cancer patient. Luckily, my family’s history with breast cancer had made me very proactive about screening, so I found the tumour early. Nonetheless I needed surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone therapy. I … [Read more...] about Nursing after Breast Cancer
Breastfeeding My Baby with Down Syndrome
Jump to Resources on Breastfeeding a baby with Down syndrome Sophie's story As soon as I was pregnant, I knew I wanted to breastfeed my baby if possible. At 22 weeks we were told our baby had a congenital heart problem called a complete AVSD (a large hole in the heart), we were also informed … [Read more...] about Breastfeeding My Baby with Down Syndrome
Breastfeeding with PCOS and a High BMI
November 2013: My first baby is finally here, and I am over the moon. But I am also leaving the hospital with formula forced upon me and already combination feeding 24 hours after a long, medicated birth. The midwives’ comments about the size of my breasts and the flatness of my nipples floating in … [Read more...] about Breastfeeding with PCOS and a High BMI