“Are you still feeding?” “When are you going to stop?” I was asked these questions when my first son was very small, only months old. I knew of LLL long before I had my baby because my friend was a Leader. I saw her deftly dealing with bundles of leaflets and information sheets, wielding massive … [Read more...] about The Goodness Goes On
Older baby
A week of nursing strike
Just after my son turned one, I returned to work and he started going to nursery. He picked up hand, foot and mouth disease during his first few weeks there, and so began his first nursing strike. He became dehydrated, as he was barely having any fluids, and after six days the doctor sent us to the … [Read more...] about A week of nursing strike
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
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
When You Don’t Enjoy Breastfeeding
After the work of getting things going, you may feel that breastfeeding should become easy and enjoyable. People talk about the amazing bond that comes with breastfeeding, or that wonderful oxytocin rush. There seems to be an increase in both classical art and stock photographs (no doubt very … [Read more...] about When You Don’t Enjoy Breastfeeding
Finding the right support
My second child has recently turned one and I find myself once again breastfeeding a wriggling, giggling, distractible toddler. I have been either pregnant or breastfeeding for the best part of four years, which is incredible when I think how hard it was to establish breastfeeding with my … [Read more...] about Finding the right support
My breastfeeding journey
I never for a moment doubted that I would breastfeed, it had never even crossed my mind that I might not be able to breastfeed; unless you count the times I imagined what would happen if I died or became hospitalised and wasn’t allowed access to my baby. During pregnancy, I couldn’t really think … [Read more...] about My breastfeeding journey
Pregnant and Breastfeeding
If you’re expecting a baby and are continuing to breastfeed your older child, many questions may be going through your mind. Mothers can breastfeed while pregnant; some go on to nurse both their new baby and their older child after the birth. This is known as ‘tandem nursing’. Breastfeeding … [Read more...] about Pregnant and Breastfeeding
Thinking of Weaning?
What is ‘weaning’? People use the word ‘weaning’ in different ways. It may be used to mean introducing solid foods alongside continuing to breastfeed or to refer to the end of the breastfeeding journey. From the first time your baby begins eating foods or drinks alongside your milk, weaning has … [Read more...] about Thinking of Weaning?