By Ainsleigh Brandler

I had always planned to breastfeed but was even more determined when my 72-hour labor ended in an emergency c-section. Feeding was excruciating initially, and I battled with cracked and bleeding nipples. At our six-week check-up, I was devastated to learn that my son had not gained weight well and had dropped two percentiles. I was astonished because I was feeding on demand and had him on my breast for what felt like all day. We were pushed into supplementing with formula, which got us into the top-up trap, but we also learned that our son had a Cow's Milk Protein Allergy (CMPA). This allergy made it very difficult to find a brand of formula that agreed with his sensitive system.

With disappointingly little National Health System (NHS) support, I hired a private lactation consultant to visit our home and watch a feed. I will never forget the devastation I felt when we learned my son had a tight posterior tongue tie and high palate (which was missed by several healthcare professionals). No wonder he couldn’t extract milk and was so distressed at the breast! We got it snipped, and I immediately felt the change. I triple-fed for a while to boost my milk supply, even though we battled several bouts of thrush, a strong bottle preference, and a few nursing strikes. (Triple feeding means you breastfeed, then pump, and then bottle feed the pumped milk, and this process is repeated 8 to 10 times per day. It is a strategy that helps in two ways: it increases mom's milk supply, and it helps baby gain weight.)

Nevertheless, I have now been exclusively breastfeeding for eight months! As a new mom who often feels overwhelmed and vulnerable, I am incredibly proud of myself for fighting for our right to breastfeed. It is the most powerful and beautiful bonding experience, and I’m so glad we persevered through all the challenges.

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