We asked mothers across the country to share what they enjoy most about nursing their babies. Susan: “The cheeky grin she gives me when she pulls off mid feed. It is a grin she only does when feeding, so I am privileged to be the only one who sees it.” Sarah: “I love how breastfeeding is … [Read more...] about Mothers on… What do you like most about breastfeeding?
Stories and Conversations
Twelve Months of Mothering: Carrying the Load
Recently, comic artist Emma took the internet by storm with her comic strip illustrations of the mental load carried by women. I looked at her work knowingly, nodding, feeling empathy for so many women in similar positions to me, who have to know and remember everything. This is the part of being … [Read more...] about Twelve Months of Mothering: Carrying the Load
Life with a new baby across the world
I have always been a keen reader, and in the sleepy haze of my first baby's earliest weeks, I was delighted to discover that I could get plenty of reading done during our long breastfeeding sessions. I found my tastes had changed a bit, though; I really struggled to enjoy almost any fiction, as I … [Read more...] about Life with a new baby across the world
Living the unexpected tandem style
If my pre-child self could see me now, she would be surprised. I was keen to breastfeed, but thought 6 months would be about right and after that my baby would eat solids and I could drink wine. As I soon learnt, babies have opinions, and mine decided very early on that breastfeeding was her number … [Read more...] about Living the unexpected tandem style
Making different choices
When I became pregnant with the one I now know to be my son, I had all sorts of ideas and ideals about parenthood and little interest in breastfeeding or responsive parenting. This has changed a lot over the last two years: who would have thought that a simple thing like mother’s milk could cause … [Read more...] about Making different choices
Baby Self Weans
Breastfeeding ends a lot like it starts With a leaking left boob and an emotional heart Breasts so engorged, they’re sore and they drip So big it feels like your top could just rip. But now there’s no need to store your milk Instead you watch, as it swirls like silk In the bath that you sit in … [Read more...] about Baby Self Weans
Mindful Breastfeeding
Like many mothers, I spent much of my daughter’s early days fretting about breastfeeding. Was her head at the right angle? Did she have enough of my breast in her mouth? Was enough of her lip rolled out? I also struggled with the usual discomforts as my nipples adjusted to their new role, as well as … [Read more...] about Mindful Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding… My Ally
My breastfeeding journey started nearly 16 years ago when I had my first child, Dylan. He was a much planned for baby, despite the naivety of only being 20 years old myself. My family wasn’t very pleased and I didn’t know any other mums with children: when I went to antenatal sessions or playgroups … [Read more...] about Breastfeeding… My Ally
Twelve months of mothering – Newborn
Being pregnant can be amazing, challenging, wonderful, energising and, tiring; so many things. In our cerebral culture, where we think too much, many of us are unprepared for the physicality of making a whole new person within us. Then we have a baby, the rite of passage of birth often spoken of … [Read more...] about Twelve months of mothering – Newborn
Rolling back the Years: And so to the Seventies
Sharing mothering experiences past and present In the 1970s it felt like all sorts of new opportunities were starting to open up for women. Germaine Greer’s book The Female Eunuch, published at the start of the decade, caused controversy as it talked about the oppression of women in contemporary … [Read more...] about Rolling back the Years: And so to the Seventies