CLAIRE PURCELL, 23 FROM SWINTON AND MUM TO NAIMH

Claire lives in Swinton with her 8 week-old daughter Niamh. Before giving birth to Niamh, Claire worked full time as a psychiatric nurse. She is planning to return to work when Niamh is 9 months old. Her plan is to continue to breastfeed while working, giving Niamh a morning and night feed (an excuse for long cuddles morning and night). Claire hopes to do this until Niamh is two.

Please explain why you’ve chosen to breastfeed?
I knew it was the best thing for Niamh. There are loads of health benefits, the main one for me was that your baby is less likely to get ear infections. My husband’s daughter suffered from frequent ear infections when she was little, (it’s terrible to see them poorly, when there’s not much you can do). Knowing that I can reduce the chances of Niamh suffering from ear infections just by breastfeeding made my choice easy.  It was also appealing because it can help you get back into shape, which is definitely true, every time I get on the scales I weigh less and I’m not even making an effort. Breast feeding also seemed like the most convenient choice—no bottles to sterilize, and easy access to a feed at any time of the day (makes shopping much easier!)

What did the people around you think of your decision to breastfeed - eg partner, parents, friends, family?
My husband was initially unsure about breast feeding.  Once he read up on it and and attended an antenatal group about the benefits, he agreed it was the best choice for our daughter.  As well as the health benefits for Niamh he liked that it was free (and although he wont admit it I think he liked that it meant he could sleep most of the night while I did the feeds). In the early days of feeding the support I received from my husband really helped, I had sore nipples and Niamh seemed to feed all day, Pete was great. He made sure I was comfortable and had something to eat and drink. Its these little things that helped us while getting breast feeding established.

Both my family and my husband’s family were happy with our choice to breastfeed, my mum told me how proud of me she was, it was really important for me to hear my mum say that. When feeding was tough in the first few weeks, it helped me to persevere. My husband’s mum was also great, she had breastfed twins so knew how demanding it can be, it was nice to talk to someone who had been through it herself. I think my dad was a little upset, as breastfeeding meant he couldn’t have his first granddaughter all to himself all the time, she needed to be peeled off him so she could have a feed, but he soon got used to it. And now that Niamh’s feeds are much quicker and less frequent everyone can cuddle her for longer without interruption.

What general advice would you give to expectant mums considering breastfeeding?
Find breast feeding support while you are pregnant, when your little bundle arrives you will have very little time to do it. Get the numbers of your local  Breastmates, find out where your local groups are and even attend them if you can. Get numbers for professional help, there is loads out there. I phoned one of the Breastmates just a few days after Niamh was born, she was so nice and even rang me back the next day to see how I was getting on.

I also attended Breastmates groups early on. While there, I spoke with other women who had gone through similar problems as I had, they had got through it and knowing that helped me to carry on. I still attend the groups now, it’s really nice to see all the other mums and babies. Also expect it to be demanding in the first few weeks, because it is. Niamh fed so often in the first 2 weeks, sometimes I did not know when one feed would finish and another would start! But it gets easier and soon you will be so glad you saw it through.

What advice would you give to mums whose partner/friends/parents disapprove of breastfeeding?
Try and educate them on the benefits for the baby and you, show them leaflets, take them to antenatal groups on breastfeeding. If it is someone close, your midwife might even speak to them. If they still don’t approve find your support in other breastfeeding mothers. I would advise them to attend the breastfeeding groups. The women at these groups are amazing, both the other mums and the midwifes, nursery nurses etc, I attended them from when Niamh was only a week old. Everyone was super friendly and easy to talk to.

As a first time mum there was so much I was unsure about and I found speaking with the other mums really helpful. Also while attending the groups I got support which helped me to get Niamh latched on correctly, it took us several weeks to get the hang of, but everyone was so patient and supportive.