KATIE BURNS, 18, FROM WORKINGTON WITH 3-MONTH-OLD BABY AMY

Katie lives in Workington with daughter Amy. Before giving birth to Amy, Katie was on her college placement, now that she has given birth and her baby is a little older, Katie plans to return to her studies.

Please explain why you’ve chosen to breastfeed?
I was always going to breastfeed when I had a baby. I got to know more about it when I was pregnant which made me even more determined to do it.

What did the people around you think of your decision to breastfeed - eg partner, parents, friends, family?
Everyone in my family have breastfed their babies. My mother breastfed me, my brother and my sister. My sister breastfed my nephew and my aunties even breastfed my cousins! My partner’s great, he thinks that that’s what breasts are for, he was breastfed too. My friends are funny; they think it’s fascinating! I think they’ll breastfeed too because it looks easy and convenient.

What advice would you give to mums whose partner/friends/parents disapprove of breastfeeding?
I would advise them to get as much information about it as they can, talk to people who have breastfed their babies. If you want to do it too, go for it! No matter what anyone else thinks!

Do you think that there are any drawbacks to breastfeeding? If so, what are they?
I don’t think there are any drawbacks. I like the fact that I can express and go out and about. I’m going away overnight next month and have expressed and frozen my milk so that Amy will have enough milk whilst I’m away.

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 spoke to my mother and the midwives in the clinic and read the leaflets that they gave me.