"Our breast feeding journey"

2 years ago I had my son and unfortunately 3 days post delivery we were readmitted due to jaundice and weight loss, I struggled with breast feeding and the solution at the time was for me to top up with formula and pump my breast milk after every feed to supplement his intake. Unfortunately I felt that my desire to breast feed was not a priority and despite my concerns of him being tongue tied no formal assessment was undertaken. As a result of the advice given in the hospital our breast feeding journey came to a premature end after I developed mastitis twice and my supply which had been very good diminished due to the supplementation he had been offered. 

In contrast to this I recently gave birth to my daughter and again 3 days post birth I was readmitted with jaundice. This time thanks to the caring and understanding team I felt supported with my breast feeding journey and if it had not been for the level of attention to detail they showed I feel that I could have easily followed a similar route. Thankfully one of the staff on duty was trained to assess my daughter for a tongue tie which was indeed considered to be affecting her latch which I was almost at breaking point with as the pain during feeds was becoming unbearable not to mention the blood that my daughter had to taste in order to establish feeding. As Jo (charge midwife) was trained to snip this tongue tie there and then our feeds became much more productive and we are immediately in a better place because of it. 

I believe that if this had been offered with my son 2 years ago then our breast feeding journey could have been a successful one.