As a first-time mother, and working as a perinatal support worker, I didn’t put too much pressure on myself for what my breastfeeding journey would look like but hoped for the possibility - but it’s been one of the most powerful and humbling experiences. I went into it with the hope that it would feel natural and intuitive, which it did to a point, Mia latch within the first half hour that she had entered the world, but those early weeks had some challenges. Latching didn’t come easily, and I often found myself second-guessing. When I thought, I was beginning to find a rhythm, I was hit with mastitis a few times. The fever, chills, and soreness and trying to nurse through it felt challenging at times. I also experienced milk blebs, which added another layer of discomfort and made me question whether I was doing something wrong. It was frustrating, painful, but I knew we had a great community of resources I could lean on for support.
What helped me was the incredible support from the midwifes, lactation consultants and support groups who offered not only expert advice but also reassurance when needed the most.
You can usually find me at the Wednesday Walks mums4mums, Thursday PICS group, Friday yoga with Ili and Tuesday peer support group.