Breastfeeding

[user1496927733]

Hello

Im looking for some feedback from any mums in the U.K.

I'm a student midwife and currently developing some ideas on health promotion in maternity care. I've been looking at breastfeeding and the available support on the NHS postnatlly for breastfeeding. I was wondering if there is anything extra information that you would have liked to receive to enable the initiation of or sustaining breastfeeding. This could just be a conversation or an extra leaflet or even a resource to help with attachment, positioning, nipple trauma etc.

Any feedback would be much appreciated.
Thank you in advance.

In my area there is little breastfeeding support that actually helps sustain breastfeeding. I was having so many problems with one boob which kept getting blocked and was loosing the plot so much so that I paid for a private lactation consultant to come help me. If I have baby no 3 the thing I would need most if having someone to call when breastfeeding goes wrong. I know some hospitals have lactation support teams and I bet their breastfeeding rates are much higher.
In terms of initiation of bf a leaflet explaining a good latch would be helpful but specifically including info like-
Nose to nipple
Chin to breast
Look for flanged fish like lips
Expect discomfort for first few seconds in first few weeks but this eases etc
Also- don't be afraid to remove and reattach if things are painful.

Not sure if the above is what you are looking for!!

I agree with the above that face to face support is what's needed. I knew all of the 'theory' but just needed help putting that into practice. You might think you've got it sussed but an expert can help correct or improve positioning to make feeding more comfortable and to help if you get problems.

If face to face isn't an option then online video demonstrations showing good latching techniques and various positions would be very useful.

I'd read all the information available but still struggled to get a decent latch. The community midwife team in my area sent out a specialist health visitor to my home. She was here about half an hour so I had a chance to talk through my breastfeeding problems and she gave me some advice and demonstrated different techniques. I'm still not quite proficient and pain free (baby only 12 days old!) but things have improved thanks to the visit.
Oh, it would be great if the classic midwife line "breastfeeding shouldn't be painful" was followed by why it might be painful and what to do about it!

Consistent support and not a cat's bum face when I explained I was struggling. Not to made to feel like I was failing you in meeting your targets. Honesty about the fact it sometimes isn't easy.

I had a colleague who was previously a pink lady and so she spent a lot of time talking to me about common problems and how to solve them as well as good latch and why combined feeding drops your supply etc before I had my little one. This in combination with a friends advice on how normal cluster feeding is etc meant I felt really confident that I knew what I was doing and how to problem solve any issues even after a traumatic delivery. I have to say the support in hospital was minimal even though I was in for 3 days - they just asked if feeding was ok and when I said yes they didn't check or offer any additional support/advice. I was in a side room which was wonderful but isolating and I was a mess post delivery whic meant long unsupported nights sitting on the edge of the bed so I could reach my cluster feeding baby - I was determined and stubborn so I did it (10months down the line I'm still breast feeding) but ive heard loads of stories of people who gave up because it was to overwhelming. I think I'm summery really good information before is key so that when the issues arise at 3am you have the knowledge to work these out and don't give up.

I have an 8 week old and the support I've had has been pretty good. Tongue tie identified in hospital. Told who to call if feeding was difficult which I did immediately when it was clear tongue tie needed to be snipped. I was really proactive and asked every midwife to check my latch and my Health Visitor. In my area I received a number of leaflets before the birth on what a correct latch looked like and numbers for LLL and breastfeeding support in the leaflets. This is great. However, most women I've come across have not had easy experiences with breastfeeding so I think it's important to manage expectations. I was determined and expected it to be really hard but knew if I kept at it, it would get easier. So I'd almost say leaflets need to say things like many women find breastfeeding difficult for several weeks but once you and baby get the hang of it, it will become second nature and you will both reap all the benefits that come with it. Would also be useful to include common problems and how to overcome them. Also, emphasize that if you have questions/need help to call x number immediately.

I think just patience when assisting with the initial latching (I felt like it was annoying the midwives when my baby wouldn't latch in he hospital and they then told me I had to give him formula when actually I think we just needed a bit more time working on the latch) then at home the midwives and health visitors dismissed my pain and bruises and bleeding as toughening up "rosy nipples" they called it. Then I felt like I was annoying them when I was struggling, yet they were annoyed when I gave up. It's just not that simple for everyone so I think more time and understanding is the most important thing that would help women and babies (oh and checking for tongue tie as I later found this tone the reason we struggled so badly but was never diagnosed until too late).

There needs to be more face to face support. I hardly had any for four days in hospital. It was awful. On the last day a lovely midwife spent an hour with me helping me. If she hadn't have done that I would have bought formula on the way home.

I think there should be a drive/ investment to get experienced breastfeeding mums on some training and get them on the wards helping out. I remember getting advice from a midwife who told me she feed her son for four weeks. Now I'm not judging but she couldn't relate to it and I feel that's crucial with breastfeeding. You need people who get how hard it is by your side!

Just to add about the face to face support which I also agree is important. It might be an idea to have an assigned peer support person for each new mum. I had peer support in my trust and was great. I had to call though. It could be the other way around. They could call you and ask if you need help and say they are your designated person.

I think it's essential to state to mums to be that breastfeeding isn't easy for most people and won't come naturally, more info on what mum and baby need to learn for successful feeding and emphasis on the fact that baby has to learn too and this takes time! I think this would help some people to stop beating themselves up and quitting if it isn't perfect straight away (or a few weeks after). I'm on week 6 with DS2 and it's only just starting to feel completely right, that's after a tongue tie and a bout of thrush.

While I'm at it, info on tongue ties and support would be very useful. I've heard one estimate which states 40% of Caucasian babies have them.