1. Why did you choose boob over bottle?

To be honest, I didn’t even think about giving Amy a bottle. When I found out I was pregnant, I knew straight away that I would try to breastfeed. My mum breastfed both my sister and I and to me breastfeeding is just the natural way to feed a baby. What else do you have breasts for?

2. How long did you breastfeed or are you planning to breastfeed?

We are currently coming up to 10 months of breastfeeding. Initially, I had estimated to be feeding Amy until about 6 months but we are still enjoying our feeds, so will take every day as it comes. If I get the feeling that Amy doesn’t want to be breastfed any more, we will just introduce formula or as I hope cows milk once she is 12 months old.

3. What is the best thing about breastfeeding?

Definitely the closeness and the cuddles. It’s such a lovely feeling when Amy snuggles up to me during her feeds or falls asleep on me. She can be the grumpiest baby ever, be moaning and teething but when we go up for her bedtime feed and it’s just the two of us, I really enjoy the peace and intimacy.

4. Did you have to overcome challenges on your breastfeeding journey?

I am really lucky so far. My biggest challenge was getting Amy to latch on properly during the first days after her birth. We both didn’t know what we were doing and us struggling in hospital really put me under pressure. Fortunately, we both got the hang of it within a couple of days. The only other thing that was really hard for me to deal with is a habit that Amy has every now and then: scratching and pinching. At one point my left breast looked like I had fallen into a barb-wired fence because she was constantly scratching and pinching me but (fingers crossed) at the moment, she’s being really good.

5. Who supported you the most with breastfeeding?

My mum and Ben were and still are a great help. My mum was only here for a day after Amy’s birth but she helped me so much finding a comfortable position to feed in and getting Amy to latch on properly. And Ben is absolutely fab as well. I know that he feels that he is missing out by not being able to feed Amy and that he would love the bonding time that Amy and I have during feeds but he throws all that over board because he knows how important it is for me to breastfeed Amy.

6. How did you feel when you first breastfed in public?

If I say that I was a mental wreck that really is an understatement. I am not really confident within my body. I carry way too much weight with me, so think people are constantly staring at me as it is. Getting my boobs out in front of strangers on top of that really sent shivers down my spine. One day when Ben was at the dental hospital and Amy and I were in the park, I just braved it because she was getting unsettled and hungry. I quickly covered my boob with a muslin cloth and literally nobody noticed that I was feeding my baby in the middle of the park. From then on I didn’t look back and got much more confident about feeding Amy in public.

7. Have you been questioned for breastfeeding?

Oh yes, before Amy was born, when Amy was born, when she was a couple of weeks old, at 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and I bet the next person asking me when I will finally stop breastfeeding her is not far away. I don’t know why people find it so strange that someone can really enjoy breastfeeding their baby but to them I seem absolutely crazy.

8. Has breastfeeding made you feel different about your body?

I still don’t like the way my body looks but I am proud that my body was home to my beautiful baby girl for nine months and that I am able to nurse Amy without having to go out and buy a tub of formula. In a way my body has helped us to bond in a really special way and that is something that makes me love my body a little bit more.

9. What do you wish you had known before making the decision to breastfeed your baby?

I think I was really naive before I started breastfeeding Amy. I thought “How hard can this be?” – mouth open, boob in and get sucking but if you don’t know what you are doing and have nobody tell you then breastfeeding can be a real hurdle. It’s not as easy as it looks but it’s worth it – for me.

I am tagging

Jenny from Mummy Mishaps
Ella from Purple Mum
Adele from Circus Queen
Jess from Mum2babyinsomniac
Alison from Plus 2.4

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