Thanks for hopping over from Princess Poet blog and welcome to my post for the Keep Britain Breastfeeding Scavenger Hunt Day 1 The Start of My Journey sponsored by Boobie Milk who are providing a £50 voucher and Cherub Chews who are offering a breastfeeding necklace for our Grand Prize winner. Entries via the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.
The start of my breastfeeding journey wasn’t the easiest.
Eliza was born at 36 weeks by emergency section. She was placed on me for immediate skin to skin but was very sleepy and had no interest in latching. Because she was premature, the midwives helped me to hand express some colostrum to get into her, which we hoped would stabilise her blood sugars and wake her up to feeding. Sadly, this isn’t how it worked, and she remained very sleepy. So we keep expressing, every couple of hours, getting small amounts of the liquid gold for her.
Over the next few hours, Eliza’s blood sugars were tested every 3 hours – her poor little heels were black and blue from the blood tests. Her sugar levels just dropped and dropped and there was talk of special care and formula top ups. I was devastate, but a wonderful maternity support worker came to my rescue. She encouraged me to keep putting Eliza to the breast while we expressed, she helped me to get a good latch, and she advised breast milk top ups rather than formula. So that’s what we did. Ever so slowly, Eliza’s blood sugar readings crept up, and she woke more and more often, looking for a feed. My heart filled with hope that we could do this.
And we did.
It wasn’t easy and it wasn’t free from stress. Eliza’s latch wasn’t perfect and I struggled with positioning after my caesarean, but with support and encouragement we were both declared well enough to leave the hospital. Over the next few days, it took Eliza a while to gain weight, but by day 14 she was back up to her birth weight and we were discharged from midwife care.
I won’t pretend it was easy, I won’t pretend it was the way I wanted it to be. But breastfeeding a premature or sick baby can be done, and the sense of achievement is overwhelming.
Following on from my journey, please do hop over to Milk and Mummy to see how her journey began and be in with more chances to enter the grand prize draw. Remember you need to earn 50 points to be eligible, full details can be found on the Keep Britain Breastfeeding Site.
oh Kate what a tricky start for you both, it must have been such a worrying time. Amazing that you managed to get through it though and got there in the end xx
Thank you for sharing the start of your breastfeeding journey with Eliza and well done for getting through it!.
Boo was a week late and we still had some issues – I lost count of the amount of midwives and breastfeeding support workers that had a look at my boobs and helped me to latch Boo on in those early days!
I am glad I had access to that support because I don’t think I would have gotten very far!
Jenni – Odd Socks and Lollipops recently posted…The Start of my Breastfeeding Journey
Thank you for sharing your story Kate. I was unsuccessful breastfeeding my first but am totally determined to get there with my second! As for dressing to impress…all that fits is a maternity dress haha!
Great post. Must have been great seeing those blood sugar readings going up. 🙂
So lovely to read that it went in end. It must have felt so good knowing you nourished her to good health.
So glad that that you had the right support just at the right time. Such a shame that there is such a variety in the quality of support available for mums who breastfeed. You did it; well done. #PositiveAboutBF
Adventures of a Novice Mum recently posted…Win 2 Packs of MAM Breast Pad
I don’t dress to impress. I dress to be warm and comfortable.
Black jeans with adjustable waist and a smart top. Always dress for comfort
This is a quick note to let you know that your post is featured in my 3rd BritMums Breastfeeding Round-up and Positive About Breastfeeding Keep Britain Breastfeeding 2015 Day 1 Quotes Round-up (to be published).