VICKY THOMPSON, 25, FROM CARLISLE WITH 7-MONTH-OLD BABY SIAN

Vicky lives in Carlisle with her daughter Sian. Before she became a mum, Vicky worked full-time. Since giving birth to Sian, Vicky has returned to work part-time, but continues to feed Sian herself by breastfeeding when she is at home and expressing milk for bottles whilst she is at work.

Please explain why you’ve chosen to breastfeed?
Even before becoming pregnant, I had decided that I wanted to breastfeed to give Sian the best start in life. It was the natural option as it’s easier than using formula in many ways. There’s no preparation and when we’re out and about, there’s not much to carry and I don’t have to worry about how long the milk has been out! Also, you can have a sleep whilst feeding if your baby is up lots during the night, so I’m not too tired during the days.

What did the people around you think of your decision to breastfeed - eg partner, parents, friends, family?
Everyone was very supportive; answering any questions I had, but not pressuring me in any way. Most people that I know breastfeed as they are older than me, I think it was seen as more ‘normal’ in the past.

What general advice would you give to expectant mums considering breastfeeding?
Give it a try! You can always swap to bottles later on and you may regret it if you don’t try. The pain does totally disappear after a while, just make sure that you’re sitting comfortably and have everything that you need to hand… drink, food, TV, remote!

What advice would you give to mums whose partner/friends/parents disapprove of breastfeeding?
I would say that support is really important, especially in the first few months, when there’s a chance that you may run into problems like thrush in the nipple. So, find someone to talk to. It is unlikely that everyone will disapprove and it does get easier. People’s opinions will matter less if you’re comfortable, besides, people will get used to it. I’ve been congratulated so many times by strangers who think it’s lovely to see, as it’s becoming less common.

Do you think that there are any drawbacks to breastfeeding? If so, what are they?
Being able to go out for any length of time and at first, being uneasy about the quantity of milk the baby is getting.

Did you speak to anyone for advice or do any research about feeding, if so, who did you speak to/where did you look for information?
I read books whilst pregnant and when I was in hospital, I spoke to the staff. I also spoke to other friends and family about their experiences of feeding their babies.