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Care Opinion

Breastfeeding Support

Posted By Realmumof3

"Breastfeeding Support"

About: Bassetlaw Hospital / Maternity care Children & younger people's services / Infant Feeding Service

(as a service user),

I have three children and a very busy life. I wanted to give breastfeeding a go after being educated on the health benefits through anti- natal classes. 

My first baby had issues with breastfeeding because of his tongue but I did not access much support, as I was more unaware of it and stressed with our struggles. We breastfed for 13 very stressful and lonely weeks.
My 2nd had issues breastfeeding in that she was jaundice and too sleepy to feed. We were readmitted to hospital where the Drs gave me advice regarding bottle feeding. Luckily I had received a text message from the breastfeeding support team just as I had left hospital. I called them from the children's ward and they made me a feeding plan, visited me regularly and gave me groups to attend. Within days my daughter was gaining weight rapidly and breastfed for a year. 
Horrifyingly, the funding was soon removed for breastfeeding supporters to visit mother's in their homes. 
My 3rd baby was happy to feed but I had damage to my nipples from my past 2 experiences. I managed to make my way to a group and the breastfeeding supporters showed me how to do things differently, and how to heal myself, and I am still feeding my baby now. 
I could NOT have breastfed my babies without these groups. Baring in mind that this is the recommended way to feed babies from the WHO and the NHS, this support is absolutely vital for breastfeeding to succeed in many cases.

I regularly access the group's now for support during certain stages, and for medical help. It is a lifeline when breastfeeding a baby.

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Responses

Response from Alison Jee, Infant Feeding Lead, Children, Families and Specialist Services, Community Health Services 4 years ago
Alison Jee
Infant Feeding Lead, Children, Families and Specialist Services,
Community Health Services

Infant Feeding Lead - breastfeeding support and training

Submitted on 11/06/2019 at 13:29
Published on Care Opinion on 12/06/2019 at 10:55

Thank you so much for this story - we always work really hard with the Childrens Centres to protect the Breastfeeding Groups as we appreciate how much of a difference they can make to new mums and hearing your story just reinforces the importance of this. It is wonderful to hear what a difference this specific support has made to you and that you are still enjoying that unique experience of breastfeeding your baby.

Dont forget to look out next week for celebration events that are taking place in all the breastfeeding groups to mark National Breastfeeding Celebration week - you are one of those special mums who we are celebrating so come along and join in!

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Response from Gill Pickersgill, Communications & Engagement Officer, Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 4 years ago
Gill Pickersgill
Communications & Engagement Officer,
Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Submitted on 20/06/2019 at 17:14
Published on Care Opinion at 17:14

Thank you so much for your feedback, I am delighted to read you have persevered and are still feeding your third child. At DBTH we have breastfeeding lead midwives within the service and all our midwives are trained to support breastfeeding to ensure you receive all the information and support you need to successfully breastfeed.

We are also working with our partners to have peer supporters on the wards to support breastfeeding mothers.

Thank you again for sharing your experiences which I have shared with the Head of Midwifery.

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