I happened to be at a breastfeeding support group yesterday (where else would I be during World Breastfeeding Week!) and a lady walked in with a bunch of flowers. How deeply honoured the recipient was to have been such an important person in that ladies life that she remembered her 12 months after having received help.
I don't think it's that family and friends or health professionals don't want to support the new mothers in their lives, I ust think that they have different agendas. A midwife has to see a certain number of families every day and in the hospital has a large number of rooms to visit multiple times a day and they have a list to complete for each one, a long list. When they visit at home they have another list of things to get through from child safety to weighing, to mums health to feeding. A family might be looking at the bigger picture or might just see that mum is struggling and try to help in the only way they think that they can.
A breastfeeding peer supporter or a breastfeeding specialist at a support group has only one agenda. That is the agenda of every single mother that walks through the door. They have the time to listen, to empathise, to give each mum the time to really work out what they want and develop a plan together to move forward if that is what they want. They don't have a checklist, they're not concerned with the immunization schedule or potty training, and they have the luxury of focussing on breastfeeding which is of course why that mum came in today.
They may not know it, but breastfeeding peer supporters and breastfeeding specialists make a huge difference to people's lives, both parents and children, and they are remembered for years to come.
Do you remember who helped you to breastfeed?
Gaining
the confidence to nurse outside of your house might not come as easily
to everyone and breastfeeding groups can be the perfect place. See
others breastfeeding, practice your technique and meet others in the
same position who might fancy a coffee or a meet up at the local park.
Stay
up to date with news about new breastfeeding groups, changes to groups
and details about upcoming peer support training follow them on Facebook .
Here are some links to other
bloggers and companies taking part in the Scavenger Hunt so that you keep
hunting –
Jade from Mummies
Waiting want to join in because I love to help people and use
my experiences to do that. I have been breastfeeding for over 2 years now and
tandem feeding my 2 year old and 6 month old since birth. We have faced many
difficulties, but none that we couldn't over come. I'm a breast feeding peer
supporter and love to get people overcoming their issues.
My Moo
and Woo is a family lifestyle blog written by a Midlands Mom of 2
girls. Blogging about extended breastfeeding, parenting, health and fitness and
everything in between.
Adele
Jarrett-Kerr is a writer, blogger and home educating mama to two
girls, living in Bristol with her husband and their daughters who are four
and one. She blogs about family life and positive parenting at Circus
Queen
Adventures of a Novice Mum is parenting and lifestyle blog from
a first time mum who is praying and blogging her way through motherhood. This
is where she documents her experiences and mu-m-sings from her mum tinted
spectacles on a range of issues in her life. She also shares her love of
photography and her blogging lessons, whilst encouraging positive and
constructive conversations about breastfeeding.
Fitforparenting is a fitness enthusiast and
Mum of 2 living in Cheshire, trying to be a fit parent not always successfully,
ranting about breastfeeding, raising kids, depression and feminism with the odd
glass of wine!
My husband. i'm 20 weeks pregnant with twins and I hardly could eat anything until 16 weeks.
ReplyDeletecouldn't stand the smell of food, but he has been VERY supportive. we cant wait to meet our babies. xx
My partner was amazing and my family.
ReplyDeleteMy husband! I am 30 weeks pregnant and he is more pro breastfeeding than most women I know :) xx
ReplyDeleteMy partner and mum
ReplyDeleteMy partner and mum
ReplyDeleteIt was an infant feeding coordinator that helped me to breastfeed. Well, she helped me to express colostrum while attempting and failing to get my baby to latch. Then one night he just did it! I totally agree with you about health professionals having other things they need to do as well. I love being a peer supporter x
ReplyDelete