Mary’s Story

I’m Mary, mother of two children ages 3 and nearly 2.  I’m a childminder and live in a very lively and happy house. I’m originally from The States, Madison WI. I moved here when I met my charming Irish husband, well I thought he was charming at the time.  I’ve lived in Ireland for over 7 years now.

When I had my first child, my daughter, I stumbled into some breastfeeding problems and it was only then that I learned of my intense desire to breastfeed.  My attitude before I had her was that if it works all well and good, and if it wasn’t to work I wouldn’t beat myself up over it.  Well it turned out that it not working in the terms I desired was much more difficult than I ever imagined.  It was because of this that I have become so passionate about breastfeeding and caring so much that if any woman out there who wants to breastfeed then they deserve the best care and support to ensure that it happens. 
 


I am so pleased to be part of Friends of Breastfeeding, to be part of something amazing that can help give breastfeeding a revival!! I hope that our efforts here will change the negative attitude of so many Irish people about breastfeeding.  I hope one day my daughter and all women in her generation, will be able to get all the proper support and right answers about breastfeeding if she so desires it.

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Jo’s Story

I have two children, aged 6 and 2. Dade is still breastfeeding enthusiastically; I’m not sure how long we’ll continue for. Cassia weaned at 14 months, very happily, I don’t think it will be such an easy ride with Dade. My mother breastfed me, and it never occurred to me that there was any other way to do things.

My own breastfeeding experiences have been largely positive, other than a few hard first days and major oversupply problems with my first, due to inadequate support and a vicious case of thrush on my second. I’ve recognised the difficulties in reaching the support that is out there, and that suited me, from my own experience, and got involved with Friends of Breastfeeding to try and make that support more easily accessible to all those who need it.

For too many it has been an isolated and painful struggle. I would love to see women enabled to feed as long and as happily as they want. I would love the truth of the benefits of breastfeeding to be more widely appreciated in Ireland. Breastfeeding seems to me to be of very fundamental importance, culturally, nationally, globally.

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Chris’s Story

I am a mother of one gorgeous little breastfed girl who is now 20 months. I am currently training to be a breastfeeding counsellor with Cuidiu and I am studying General Nursing. I am membership secretary for Friends of Breastfeeding which means I process all the membership forms and sort out the membership fees with our Treasurer but in reality I tend to get stuck in to most things!
 

I am involved in Friends of Breastfeeding because I would like to help others have the breastfeeding experience they want. I feel that I only got past the first week still breastfeeding through luck and ignoring bad advice from the very medical professionals who should have been able to guide me through the big learning curve that is having a new baby.

I really hope that we can change this and help our society recognise that whether someone decides to breastfeed themselves or not, they should be supportive of those who do breastfeed their children in every way.

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Kate’s Story

I am a mother to seven boys ranging from 19 to 3.  All have been breastfed and naturally weaned when they were ready to do so.  The youngest, Tadhg is nursing away at this stage and we are both happy to do so!
I am a child psychologist and work in private practice in south Kildare. 


I have been involved in breastfeeding support since 1992 when my second son was born.  I realised then how important breastfeeding was for me, my family, our future and saw a far bigger impact than my own small circle.


Our families were not a breastfeeding culture but living in South Africa it was more of a cultural norm to nurse.  I was in for a big shock when I returned to Ireland in 1998 and realised that it wasn’t the norm here.
Since then I have stayed involved with breastfeeding in Ireland and realise how much support outside our own families is needed to encourage breastfeeding in our society here.  Consistent information seems to be limited and this is what we, as mothers need. 

My mantra is Forget science, trust your instincts!

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Áine’s Story

To me breastfeeding is the normal thing. I had no negative or positive feeling towards it, it just was the way to feed a baby. Giving a baby formula just seemed like too much hard work for me. I have to admit to being a very lazy individual!

My own mother died when I was two and my Dad remarried when I was 10. My step-mother breastfed both my sisters but as her maternity leave at the time was only for 3 months she weaned them then.

I remember my step-mother making up the bottles every night. Sterilising the bottles, warning us under pain of death not to touch the kettle as she had to wait 30 minutes or so until the water was cool enough to make up the bottles. Invariably my Dad or I would forget and want some tea and used up the water on her! So she’d have to start again! She was not best pleased!

When I found out I was pregnant I knew I wanted to breastfeed. A friend of mine who had had a baby a few months earlier was breastfeeding her baby but had had a few problems and one thing she said she wished she had done a breastfeeding class before the baby was born so that she knew what to expect. So I went to see a friend of mine who at the time had 3 children and was a breastfeeding counsellor with Cuidiu. I got as much information as I could from her and she became my “goto” person. I also did the Cuidiu ante-natal class and as part of that there was a comprehensive breastfeeding section. And just to be sure to be sure I also did the breastfeeding class in Holles Street. So I was prepared…

The birth was fine, normal if not very painful as she came out facing the wrong way! I was determined I would breastfeed her so the first thing I did was put her to the breast and she took to it like a duck to water. Latched on and fed for about 10 minutes. It was one of the most amazing feelings I have ever had. I had just spent 9 months growing my beautiful baby girl and now here she was and I, yes I, was still growing her!

The second night in the hospital was the worst. My milk had come in early as she was a great sucker and she ended up feeding all night. At that stage I had been awake for nearly 2 days. When my husband came in the next day I was fit to die I was so tired. I went home at lunchtime feeling like my life would never be the same again.

I had the usual issues for the first 10 days – sore, bleeding nipples and they eventually cleared up. I fed on demand, however whenever she had a growth spurt I was in agony for a few days as my supply adjusted (10 days, 6 weeks, 3 months, 4.5 months old). It was as if I had glass being dragged through my breasts! I went to see my PHN and my GP and they both said I had thrush. To be honest neither really seemed to know what was going on. After much heartache I eventually spoke to a very knowledgeable lady in Cuidiu who said I had something called “Duct Cramping” caused by my daughters ferocious sucking and that it would pass. The first time it happened I nearly gave up on the breastfeeding as I thought I would never get through the pain! As each growth spurt occurred the pain got easier.

Then there was the time my daughter bit me! It happened at about 5 months, she was teething badly and my nipple got quite sore, again went to PHN and GP and they said thrush! Nope not that time either just a cranky little baba. She eventually started taking a soother instead of using me to soothe her gums!!

Cuidiu were the best help when I had problems and needed expert advice. I used to go to a meeting whenever something came up that I needed advice on. The breastfeeding support group run by the HSE was a great place to meet other Mums. We used to exchange tips and meet for lunch, just support each other when we were feeling a bit low.

My Good Bits:

Not having to get up in the middle of the night to make up bottles.

Feeding lying down  (once I got the hang of it!)- I could snooze while she fed!

The closeness and the cuddles.

Feeding whenever and where ever was required.

Not having to go home to make up a bottle cos I forgot to bring one with me!

Knowing that she was doing so great and it was all down to me!

My own breastfeeding experience has been mixed. Sometimes very hard but mostly brilliant. It has been one of the best things I have ever done and would recommend it to everyone. My motto was take one day at a time and now nearly 10 months on I’m still breastfeeding. I will continue until we are both ready to stop, which unfortunately much to my dismay, may be soon enough, as she seems to be self-weaning!

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Melanie’s Story

I have four children now aged 7, 5, 3 and 6 months who I am still breastfeeding. Anyway I always had it in my head that I would breastfeed and thank God it worked for me.

I remember the first time feeding in Holles street and the midwives were so good, showing me how to latch on etc  - I must say I never realized or nobody told me about the initial pain for the first 10-12 days or so - (I know not everybody gets the soreness at the start) it started from my toes right up to my boobs when I latched on for the first 20 seconds and I would breath through it like the contractions!!! Yes I got bleeding and blisters and engorgement but I was so determined to breastfeed I continued on and spoke to my cousin who breastfeed her son for 3-4yrs and she told me the pain would go and thank God it did 10-12days later! After that it was fine.

I really think its important to let women know that it can be sore at the start otherwise they may give up after a few days and that would be a shame for baby and mother alike!

My latter two babies were exclusively breastfed for 6 months and then I introduced solids and before the solids they were slow to gain weight and the PHN were trying to encourage me to give them formula or start solids earlier than 6 months but I didn’t listen to them and they are all healthy and doing great. Ireland has an obsession about what weight your baby is gaining and as we all know breastfed babies gain at a different rate than formula fed babies - there is no comparison.

One morning I was lying awake waiting for my 1st born daughter to wake up and instead I heard the birds outside on the trees squawking and my breasts began to leak - the let down - "mother nature" obviously my body was responding to the sound like a baby's cry - I'll never forget this morning - its amazing - women are superwomen and we are amazing!!!!!!

Each and every time I gave birth to my four babies they all latched on immediately and it is such a lovely feeling and bonding between mother and baby - skin to skin - other women who choose not to are missing out of this lovely experience. You cannot give your baby more than giving them mothers milk - as nature intended - just look out in the fields - all the animal kingdom do it!

I will be sad when I stop breastfeeding my son as he is my last realistically as I have four children 2 girls and 2 boys and they are all healthy and well so we are blessed.

I find it very handy - on tap no matter where I go I do it - at the school gate, in the car, in church, in restaurants, really any place and anywhere - picture this my son in his sling going around shopping pushing a shopping trolley with my other 3 children - talk about double jobbing heh!!! Most people don't even realize you are feeding as it looks like my son is snuggling up against me and sometimes I throw a muslin square over my shoulder otherwise I just feed – it is the most natural thing in the world and it’s a shame a lot more women don't even give it a try!

As I'm typing here my son is on my right hand boobie before he retires for the night! I have friends that are having babies over the last few years phoning me and asking advice re: breastfeeding and I love helping them out in anyway I can as I know its not easy at the start and its nice to be able to ask me anything and know they will get an honest open answer.

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Deirdre’s Story

I have always been very pro-breastfeeding and always knew that if I ever had children that I would breastfeed. Right through my pregnancy with my son Gearoid I never ever thought that I would have any problems. When Gearoid was born, after a long tough birth I was taken aback when he wouldn’t latch.

The midwife didn’t try to help me and just told me to try again later. We were landed on the postnatal ward and my husband was asked to leave as it was in the middle of the night. Gearoid started crying, I tried and tried to latch him all night and couldn’t get him to latch. I rang the bell a few times and each time a midwife came, looked annoyed, turned off the bell and said she would come to me when she had a chance, she never did, and she wasn’t too busy to help as I could hear her laughing and chatting with other staff down the corridor.

By the time morning came Gearoid was in such distress, he was disturbing the other babies, he was hungry, I was exhausted as it was my third night without sleep and I asked for a bottle of formula, it arrived straight away- no problems getting help there!

I cried bitter tears giving it to him, but he was much happier. All that day I asked for help and didn’t get it- in fairness the staff that day were very busy. At 5pm and after a few more bottles of formula the female doctor who delivered Gearoid came to see me. I told her that I was getting no support with BF Gearoid, that I was fine, but exhausted, and wanted to go home. She granted my early discharge. I rang my husband and asked him to collect us.

On the way home we stopped at an all night chemist, where a bought the only pump they had- a hand pump, and a steriliser and bottles. That night I tried latching Gearoid, and pumping- neither successful. The next day I rang a friend in New York, who recommended a double electric pump- I went out and got it. Oh the absolute relief when I was able to express colostrum. Gearoid got his last formula bottle at 2 days old and got a colostrum bottle that evening. He never received formula again. Despite seeing a lactation consultant I was not successful in getting him to latch and I exclusively expressed for him for 19 months. He is the light of my life and I still feel very sad that I could breastfeed him in the normal natural way, but I did my best. I often look of photos of me smiling with him in that hospital, but beneath that smile was a very worried and unhappy first time mom.

My very special daughter was born in February this year, and I prepared well by attending breastfeeding classes before the birth and making sure I got some support in the hospital. My husband also posted on the breastfeeding board with my questions from the maternity bed and that was a huge help. My daughter is now 7 months and I love love love breastfeeding her. We have had a few stumbling blocks along the way, but nothing that I couldn’t handle. It’s such an amazing magical experience- every feed is pure magic. I can’t explain it. The health benefits are brilliant obviously, but so is the experience. Id get pregnant again just to BF!

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Sharon’s Story

"Mothering the Mother"

I grew up in a breastfeeding environment. I am one of nine breastfed children and my mother is a La Leche League leader. Throughout my childhood the phone was always hopping and my brothers and I would look at each other with disgust as Mam asked the callers what colour their babies nappies were as we tried to eat our dinner.

When I was pregnant I fantasized about feeding my baby and near the end of my pregnancy a friend of my mothers fed her little boy in our back garden, gazing into his eyes...bliss. Imagine my surprise when my vice-grips (disguised as a baby) latched on after a 30 hour natural labour! I had no idea that the first few days were going to hurt, that I would be an emotional wreck when my milk came in or that my son would not only want to feed all day but all night as well!

Step in my hero, my mother. While I made a bum shaped imprint on the couch my mother always had something delicious for me to eat with my spare hand. When I was exhausted she forced me to go for a daily short walk and have a bath. For six weeks my mother came to my house every day and cooked nurtured and supported me. Looking back she never took my baby from me but encouraged me to hold him and keep him close. She made it possible for me to spend the first two weeks in bed with him. When I asked for her advice she asked me what I thought I should do. I remember one night as I went to bed she lay beside me for a while and I noticed how exhausted she was trying to run two houses. By mothering me my mother provided me with the tools to build my own confidence as a mother.

Breastfeeding was difficult for me. My son often refused the breast and had a lot of trouble with wind, wouldn't sleep and basically cried constantly for the first few months. My mother and the rest of the La Leche League group provided me with the support I needed, sometimes the phrase "it will pass" is all a new mother needs to hear. My husband was also a huge support to me, trusting in my decisions as a mother and staving off unwanted visitors with a hurley in the early days!!  As my babymoon came to an end and my mother gently weaned me by reducing the time she spent in my house I began to reflect on the fact that no matter what stage your life is at you still need mothering. As a breastfeeding mother I feed on demand and hope that I can mother on demand in the future as my mother continues to do!

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Angela's Story

While pregnant with my son my aim was to give breastfeeding 'a go', I knew of no one who breastfed successfully so wasn't expecting much to be honest. - Anyway when the day finally came I gave birth to my beautiful baby boy (was lucky to have had an easy enough labour). I also had a birth plan, and at the top of my list was to have immediate skin to skin contact (which I got) and to have my baby at my breast as soon as possible after the birth (which I also got). The midwives were fantastic and I got my wishes. My son latched on no problem and luckily enough it seemed to come quite natural to us both. As I said the midwives were fantastic and I couldn't fault them, but once back in the ward I have to say I received a lot of conflicting advice from the nurses. I now know that some of the advice that was given could have sabotaged our bf relationship. But luckily it didn't. Anyway my initial aim was to give breastfeeding a go, which then became 6wks, which then lead to 6mths and finally ended up being 13mths (it's addictive!).

Next time around, I gave birth to my beautiful baby girl (an even easier labour this time). Again I got my wishes, skin to skin contact and this time I latched her on to my breast myself almost immediately after birth. Once again it seemed to come quite natural to us both. She is 15mths now and we are still breastfeeding and will continue to do so until we are both ready to stop (whenever that may be, as I said before it's addictive!)

Since 2005 I have either been pregnant or breastfeeding. I was the first of my family and friends to breastfeed. I went into it not expecting it to work, as I only ever heard negative stories about breastfeeding. I ended up being 'pleasantly' surprised and (without being smug) found it all quite easy and extremely rewarding. I was lucky never to have encountered any problems such as sore nipples, blocked ducts etc. Breastfeeding for me has definitely been the 'easy' option.

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