Breastfeeding Stories - Hayley

This is Hayley. Hayley is a mum to two gorgeous children, Jake and Ciara, she is photographed here with her eldest Jake.

These are her words.

Jake is my first born. He arrived a few weeks early, following a small for dates pregnancy. After a weigh in, and a wee cuddle with mum and dad, Jake was whisked to the special care baby unit for NG tube feeding and a few nights in an incubator. A little battered after the C-section, I was a few floors downstairs adjusting to life as a new mum separated from Jake. I was extremely well looked after on the post-natal ward. I had an amazing lactation nurse visit my bedside, she helped me get started with pumping the colostrum so I could bottle feed Jake when I visited him. I was really worried about getting him latched on, as we were separated. My exhausted and overwhelmed brain was playing tricks, and my fear was that Jake would think the special care nurse was his mummy. The lactation nurse was full of reassurances for me. Jake spent 3 days in SCBU, then once with me, he very quickly established a great latch. My midwife gave him the honour of "baby of the week", it's OK, I realise that all the new mums probably got bestowed with a "baby of the week". All the same, it was a lovely little gesture after our initial adventures. I am proud to say, our breastfeeding journey continued until he reached one year old. And an added bonus, I was only delighted that my top wardrobe staple of dungarees were BF friendly! Small whoop for me 😉!!!