"Physical in-person support was crucial to me"

After the birth of my first child, I was seriously struggling with breastfeeding which was beginning to affect my mental health as I did not want to give up but I also didn't know how to change things in order to succeed. 

As great as it is, the trust's peer supporter text service was nowhere near enough to support me through my difficulties with breastfeeding so after searching, I found the breastfeeding support group in Lurgan library which was attended weekly by a health visitor. Here I received physical support with latch, positioning and posture as well as emotional support.

A health visitor Nicol was attending weekly at the time and without her advice, support and encouragement I don't believe my son would have been breastfed any longer than the first 4 weeks. Instead, we made it to 19 months. Both myself and my little boy have Nicol to thank for that. Her knowledge, experience and passion for supporting breastfeeding is a great asset to the trust that so many mummies and babies are lucky to benefit from. This physical in-person support was crucial to my own and so many other mummies' breastfeeding journeys. 

I was disheartened however to return to the group recently with my second child to find that Nicol is no longer able to attend weekly. It was such a great space for her to share so much with so many in one place. I am extremely grateful to have benefitted from her support but wish that more mummies could also continue to do so at the weekly group.