"Support from Baby Steps was invaluable"

I received support from the baby steps project which changed my breastfeeding journey for the better!

I received a phone call from the team 1 day after leaving hospital and they offered support and advice. Having had a rough night cluster feeding, I was reassured I was doing everything right and it was normal to feed like this in the first few days. I was offered a visit and follow up call. I took the call as felt like feeding was going well.

When Kirsty called back the following day, she asked me if it was sore to feed and I said nothing more than expected and she assured me it should not be painful at all and asked if she could come out. I was quite sceptical as had received some disheartening support from a maternity care assistant in the interim but I am so glad that Kirsty came out! She was non-judgmental, supportive and kind. She suggested changing my position to just holding my baby rather than these unnatural positions they teach at the antenatal class. I went from dreading my baby’s next feed to feeling close to my baby as a result of this and had no pain at all while feeding.

Kirsty also explained the different stages of a feed and the sleepless nights I’d been having (11pm-8am awake feeding) improved drastically as I knew when my baby had finished feeding, was content and I was able to put her down to sleep. I honestly felt like a new woman the next day all thanks to this visit!

I think this programme is invaluable for new mums and without it I might not still be on my breastfeeding journey. If women had this support before hand as well, or in the hospital, I think a lot more mums would breastfeed as a result and feel properly supported.

I also received further support from the team through further calls and a further visit which gave me reassurance I had the correct positioning and gave me the chance to discuss any concerns about breastfeeding.