My cousin's wife had a baby 2 days ago, had no help with BF in hospital, came to see us today and

[SparklyGothKat]

I helped her latch her beautiful baby on She wants to BF but had no help in hospital so gave her a bottle when she came home. She came here this evening and the baby was rooting, and I said to try again. I helped her with positioning and latching, and away she went. Have lent her my BF pillow and said if she needs any help to just call me (we live about 5 mins walk apart) I am so proud of her for trying. I think she thought it was too late.

Well done, you should be proud of yourself for helping. I wish I'd met someone like you years ago when I was struggling.

Well done you!

It makes me spit, how the government wants all babies to be breastfed, yet supplies no support.

Did you hear what happened to Franny in hospital? The LLL woman came to see her in her own time, and the NHS breastfeeding counsellor phoned after she and ds2 were out to offer support!

I said to her taht I am very pro-BF and if she thinks that I am pissing her off to tell me. She said that she wants to BF, but after her DS cracked her nipples and how painful it was, and it took weeks to heal, she is in 2 minds. I explained about positioning and how it shouldn't hurt, and I think she will keep at it

brilliant!and to know she can come to you must be really reassuring for her
i found bf so traumatic for the first 5+months and tbh its only been the last few months ive really connected with it and started to actually enjoy it.

When in 2 minds all you need is that extra reassurance that everything will turn out ok, that person who is at the other end of the phone when you are in pain and about to give up, I speak from bitter experience!

I think the fact that I have been asked to train as a BF peer supporter helped TBH. I am very Pro-BF and am going to do the training as soon as the HV has found enough people to train at the same time.

She said it felt fine but it did make her tummy contract a lot (I said it will get her back into shape quicker)

The baby is beautiful tho. I am all broody....

what an amazing thing for you to do for your cousin i myself am very pro-BF and struggled alot during the first few weeks of BF my DD. i had practically no support from HCPs with one (of the many) MWs i saw in the first 4 weeks actually suggesting i 'switch to formula if i feel i am struggling' she had no pearls of wisdom (partly due to the fact that she had no children of her own) to offer me and told me i would possibly be more relaxed FFing my DD if i had had someone like you i may have not found it such a struggle in the early days. i did however with the support of my DH carry on until DD was 6 months
good luck with the peer support training, it sounds like you will be ideal for the position
xx ei xx

SGK ds2 has the best expression of any baby on mn in your profile. The shocked, cross and how-very-dare-you face, looking to his right.

I think you're broody because ds2 is nearly a boddler.

You'll be a top bf supporter

I also struggled a lot with BF this time around.Callum didn't latch correctly and didn't gain weight to the standards of the HCPs. I kept at it with the support of DH, my family and the BF clinic HV.
Callum is 10 months now and still BF. I find it relaxing, and it makes me happy. (also i am tight and refuse to buy formula )

I might text her later and see how she is getting on, or would that be too pushy??

How lovely SGK, wonderful you were able to help her
A text would be nice, just to say hope you are ok - she knows where you are and that you want to help, so I would leave it at that.
I'm also hoping to start peer supporter training as well but there is not many trainers in the area!

How lovely that you are helping her, I am so indebted to the people that helped me BF, I owe them months of happy feeding my DS. I would text just to let her know you're happy to see her again etc, as perhaps she might need help again checking the latch etc? Some people aren't very good at asking for help when they need it.

I know when I started BF, my HV told me to go to the BF clinic, I put it off, because I didn't want to be seen as a failure who couldn't latch my baby on right, I eventually gave in and went and it was the best thing I did.

Well done SGK!

That's fantastic! Even if she doesn't keep it up - you gave her the option she didn't have.

I knew that if I felt the contractions I was getting it right and dd was getting milk - so found them reassuring

I had a bf counsellor for dd1. Had a lot of trouble and pain for 10 weeks. The best thing was that she was there if I needed to call, and didn't judge.

You'd have to word the text right - just in case she's still having difficulties, or has decided not to bf. Well done you

Well done you! News that made me smile. It is horrid when the latching doesn't work quite right and there's blood etc. but eventually (and quite quickly) the pain goes once you reposition and...bingo!!

i tried bf ds2 in hospital but he got poorly,ended up with tube then nurses said bottles,5 days later at home he was back on the breast..didnt last for more than 5 weeks but im so glad i tried again and had those weeks.

I said that even if she only BF for a few weeks, that its all good. She managed 3 1/2 weeks with her son. My cousin is very supportive of her BF and even he said its the best thing for the baby