So many of you share pieces of your breastfeeding journeys with me, so it is only fair I share mine with you! 

 

My first breastfeeding journey began when my son was born in March 2021, during the lockdown restrictions of the Covid pandemic. He was an elective C-section due to being footling breech and I knew I wanted to breastfeed for my whole pregnancy. I'd read all the material, done the courses (online of course, due to restrictions) and hoped that everything would click into place when he was born,

​

It didn't.

​

I remember struggling to get him to latch in the hospital as I recovered from the C-section. I remember struggling when we got home. I remember the feeling of helplessness and the pain from his poor latch and the blisters and blebs I soon developed. I remember the midwives coming to weigh him and telling me that his weight gain wasn't good enough and that we might need to supplement him or switch to formula and the absolute lack of help or support I was offered to continue to breastfeed. I watched videos from resources like La Leche League and tried to troubleshoot myself, I tried nipple shields, hoping they might help and would at least take away some of the pain. Right at the point where I thought we might have to just give up, I had another midwife visit, another visit where I was told my baby wasn't gaining enough weight. Except this time, the midwife asked what I wanted to do about it. I explained about the difficulties I was having with latching him and she listened. She asked me if I could feed him while she was there and she made gentle adjustments, helping me to hold him correctly, demonstrating and explaining how to get a better latch. She gave me some websites and a phone number. She gave me exactly what I had been missing - the support of someone who knew what they were doing and was willing to spend some extra time with me.

​

After that, we went from strength to strength. His latch improved, my confidence grew and I began to love breastfeeding and to feel so proud of how far we had come, and so grateful for that midwife willing to stay a little longer and offer her help at a time when so little face to face support was available.

​

I continued to breastfeed Murphy and at around 13 months old, he started to drop feeds. Gradually, slowly enough that my body adjusted and we found a new routine of breastfeeding only at certain points in our daily routine. Gradually, more feeds fell away until at the age of 15 months I offered him a feed one night before bed and he said 'no'.

​

Our breastfeeding journey ended soon after that, gently and quietly. I was hopeful that this wouldn't be my last breastfeeding journey, and it wasn't.

​

When Murphy was around 9 months old I had begun training as a breastfeeding peer supporter, something I wanted to do to help other mother's who might be feeling as lost as I was in those early days. After completing my training I joined a local breastfeeding support group and began offering support face to face at drop ins, home visits and also via webchat. Alongside Boobie Jewels and on a breastfeeding journey myself, breastfeeding became a huge part of my identity and I loved being able to help others on their journeys and celebrate their successes with them. When I found out I was pregnant with my daughter, I felt optimistic that our breastfeeding journey would be successful, armed now with my peer supporter knowledge and others who would help and encourage me if I needed it.

​

In January 2024 Marlowe was born. She was born by emergency C-section and I was worried the circumstances and trauma of her birth might mean that I couldn't establish breastfeeding or my supply might not be enough for her quickly enough. I had not harvested any colostrum due to advice not to (this was the case with both of my pregnancies as I had a high risk of pre-term labour due to a uterine abnormality) so I had no stash or back up. I needn't have worried. From the first latch, our journey was easy, like breathing. Thankfully, despite a minor tongue tie, we never had any difficulties. My breastfeeding journey with Marlowe lasted until she was 2.5 years old. Again, the end came gradually, gently but this time, I mourned it being over a lot more as I knew she was my last baby. I had a big adjustment period after that realisation as combined with the hormonal changes and weaning blues that come with a breasstfeeding journey ending it felt overwhelming. The Boobie Jewels community on Instagram was a huge help in this - knowing there are other mother's who understand is such a wonderful and powerful thing.

​

Boobie Jewels isn't just about breastmilk jewellery. I genuinely am a huge advocate of breastfeeding, a mother who has been there and gets it. Someone who will always celebrate your breastfeeding achievement and who will also extend support and solidarity to you if your journey isn't going as planned or has ended. 

​

I know I won't ever breastfeed another baby, the chapter has closed for me now. But I am eternally grateful to have been able to breastfeed both my babies for a time, and also for the journey it brought me on and the business and community where I am able to celebrate and share in so many amazing women's breastfeeding journeys.

 

What a privilege!

​

Becky x

​