Breastfeeding Stories - Jenn

This is Jenn and her two gorgeous boys Harvey and Dylan. These are her words.

I didn’t really know anyone who had breast fed and I was  too worried to go to any of the breastfeeding groups before I had my baby because I was afraid that if it didn’t work out for me, that I would feel like I had failed. So I took the attitude of “fed is best” and decided to wing it. 

After a long labour and emergency section we were separated for a while and my husband called to ask if he could give him a bottle, without hesitation I said “of course give him whatever he needs”. So I kinda thought that was it then, that he would be on bottles and that was fine. 

When we were reunited the midwife stuck Dylan on my chest  for skin to skin and within minutes he crawled across my chest and just latched himself on. I had no idea what was going on. I had to call the midwife over . That was it, we just went from there and I feel like he taught me how to do it.

I had a fantastic PHN who ran a breastfeeding group every week. I enjoyed it so much so that I started going to the cuidui Breastfeeding group too. Between the two groups I made new friends, had all my questions answered , gained confidence feeding in public etc

By 5 months Dylan had 8 teeth and was starting to bite so feeding was getting stressful and I don’t think either of us were liking it. 

I was anxious about weaning. I worried I was “giving up”. Then one day when he was 6 months I went to feed him and he wasn’t into it and neither was I and that was the last feed. So natural!  I pumped when I needed to and had a good freezer stash  for if he ever got sick etc. 

8 months later I was pregnant again. This time I was more prepared but not for the tiredness of night feeds while also having another baby under 2. Harvey went straight for boob once on my chest and latched straight away. He would feed 24/7 if I let him.  There have been days where I have felt  touched out.  He is 3 months now and things are great. Thankfully I can say it has been another positive experience.  I do believe half of our success is down to not putting pressure on myself at the beginning. I hope to keep going for 6 months and pray it will be as relaxing an end as before.