Pregnancy
Breastfeeding Support - Mother to Mother
Breastfeeding Support Mother To Mother in the Women’s Health Group Kilkenny
“I cluster feed from 7-10pm and it just became her pattern. I had lots of milk but at that time of the day I didn’t feel I had much, but knew she was building her supply and to help her sleep longer at night. I was tired but kept on going.”
“I never knew that breastfed babies had to be winded, definitely be more proactive on winding on our second.”
“I took it in stages, breastfeed in front of my dad then my brothers. I got over it and now it’s easier.”
Jackie and baby Millie.
“I found the ‘Baby Elegance’ baby pillow fantastic. Best thing I ever had. I’d swear by it. I wouldn’t leave home without it.”
Theresa and baby Lucy.
“I leaked a lot, so I used Tommy tippy breast pads. They were larger and better for me.”
Theresa and baby Lucy.
“When I breastfeed it makes me feel like I’m giving him time. I might be reading or doing other things with the other kids but still I’m with Luke.”
Julie and baby Luke.
“My mind was everywhere so I found the breastfeeding bracelet was without a doubt a great help to me. I also found the ‘What to expect when you are breastfeeding’, book very supportive. Especially when you are on your own, and doubting whether you will cope, you have that to guide you.”
Emma and baby Maeve.
“I never really knew about cluster feeding, even knowing that its normal made it easier to cope.”
Kate and baby Conn.
“Be practical with a practical approach and do what works for you. It does actually get better and be patient, there is enough milk.”
Nada and baby Amro.
“The initial latch to breastfeed in the early days was very uncomfortable. I drank water during the latch and it really helped me.”
Claire and baby.
“You loose weight after the delivery and when you are breastfeeding you feel so relaxed. I have twins, a toddler and a new baby. I’m very busy but I find the time. You just have to be organised with your time.”
Nada and baby Amro.
“Feeding cues, I just didn’t recognise them. Now that I know, it’s much easier on my second and third. Also, I direct my baby’s nose to my nipple and get a big wide mouth and I put baby on that way so it was much easier.”
Bernadette and baby Ruth.
“When you start you think you have to breastfeed for ever, but if you think about it, you breastfeed for the length of time that suits you, and not for ever.”
Bernadette and baby Ruth.
“You shift the baby weight faster, and get to relax while you are breastfeeding. It is a hurdle at the start but its easier now, especially at night and of course your baby is less windy and healthier for breastfeeding”
Maeve and baby Eva.
“Don’t get frustrated if you can’t get baby to latch on in the early days. You can express, there is another option.”
Lorraine and baby Laura
“You become very intuitive of your baby. I surprised myself, I love it. I had nipple soreness for 6 weeks but stay with it.
Also my baby was so alert with breasting, taking it all in.”
Geraldine and baby Aaron.
“I had 3 easy going babies and I attribute my success to that. Breastfeeding is not stressful, you can’t put yourself under that kind of stress, and mum and baby have to be happy.”
Paula and baby Lewis.
“I wasn’t that pushed about breastfeeding but I gave it a go and found it so handy. I love it. Also my advice, a baby in the early days is not hungry; he’s just building a milk supply. Stick to your guns and don’t be swayed by others pushing and telling you otherwise. The first 6 weeks can be tough but it does get easier.”
Helen and baby Cian.
“I found day 4 very hard and difficult but got through it, and day 5 was fine. I also religiously applied the Lansinoh cream and used the multi mam compresses in the first week. I felt this time, having been so sore on my first, that it really helped me. My advise if you are finding it tough, step away, so you can see the wood from the trees, walk away and leave your baby with a responsible person and then come back even 15 minutes away makes the difference.”
Eimear and baby Max.
“Feeding was a lot easier second time around, the initial latch on was not difficult at all. Also I was more relaxed but still used the Lansinoh cream for the first 3 weeks.”
Emma and baby Charlie.
“I would recommend breastfeeding with a caesarean, there is no up and down for bottles, it made me feel a sense of achievement as I would have liked a natural birth so for me I was delighted that breastfeeding went well.”
Leanne and baby Aoileanne.
“I found the Avent nipple cream and Weleda Calendolon nipple cream fantastic, easy to apply and so beneficial to my nipples, also for me my milk didn’t really come in until day 6 and thankfully was much easier on day 14 after the birth, I got to a stage then that I knew I won’t want to stop breastfeeding.”
Helena and baby Jo.
“At 2 weeks things got much better, your nipples your body, everything. My husband felt that it was crazy, the things that were going on before this, but it’s only crazy for now. I was determined to breastfeed.”
Bernie and baby Conor.
“I Found Avent Nipple Cream fantastic, it’s very soft and this one worked for me. My advice is to give up looking at the clock. It drives you mad. Just enjoy your little one and don’t calculate the hours you’ve spent breastfeeding. Just go with the flow.”
Noelle and Baby Jules.
With grateful thanks, to all mother and families, who contributed and are still
contributing to their families.
‘Cluster Feeding’ also called bunch feeding, is when babies space feeding closer together at certain times of the day and go longer between feedings at other times. This is very common, and often occurs in the evenings. It’s often, but not always, followed by a longer sleep period than usual: baby may be “tanking up” before a long sleep. For example, your baby may nurse every hour (or even constantly) between 6 and 10 PM, then have a longish stretch of sleep at night - baby may even sleep all night.