One in 200. That’s how many women in the UK are still breastfeeding after a year, putting me among the 0.5% of mums who still are.
The figure is the lowest in world but this post isn’t about that – having given up my dream job to breastfeed I’ve written about why I think UK breastfeeding rates are so low before. It’s a positive post about the good things they don’t tell you from a mama who loves breastfeeding.
I’ve exclusively breastfed all three of my babies and if you’re a regular follower of the blog you’ll know I work with breastfeeding experts Medela as a #MedelaMum doing my little bit to champion the cause.
With Littlest B now turned one and the owner of six teeth and a pair of feet she’s about to walk on I thought it’s time for a little update on my last post – six things I learnt in six months of exclusive breastfeeding – with the truth about breastfeeding at one.
The truth about breastfeeding at one
1. The day no longer revolves around your breasts. At first everything is in anticipation of, and planned around, the next feed, and if you’re pumping to boost milk supply or because you’re going back to work there’s all that to contend with too. Throw in cluster feeding and it can feel like the whole day revolves around your breasts. But fast forward 12 months and you don’t even think about the next feed, you just do it. Have boobs, will travel.
2. You can ditch the pads. It’s hardly surprising so many women feel so low after having a baby when you’re leaking from both ends and padded up to the nines with big knickers and breast pads. But once feeding is established you’ll suddenly find you don’t need the breast pads any more – and wonder what on earth to do with the rest of the pack you have left. Coasters, anyone?
3. You don’t even notice them latch on. In the beginning it’s all about the latch: are they on right? Is their bottom lip folded back like it should be? Is there the correct amount of space between their nose and the top of your boob? Do you need to ‘break the seal’ and latch them on again? Now you’re both seasoned pros you don’t even think about it.
4. Your old friends are back. I’m talking about your boobs, as opposed to the humongous, angry, hard, vein-speckled mammaries that appear as soon as your milk comes in. Each of mine were the size of my baby’s head at first, but somewhere between month six and 12 they return to their normal size – and you can return to normal bras.
5. No-one’s looking. It’s true the majority of stories in the media about breastfeeding are negative ones focusing on breastfeeding in public – indeed I’ve even helped fuel the debate by going on TV defending my right to breastfeed in the pub – but the truth is, no-one’s looking. In the early days, if you’ve never done it before or you haven’t done it in a while, it’s easy to feel like the eyes of the world are on you if you need to whip them out in public. But in reality the majority of people don’t even realise you’re doing it, and if they do the chances are they’re silently praising you for it.
What I’m trying to say is, that if you’re six days or six weeks or six months in and padded up to the nines with breast pads over boobs the size of boulders while wrestling with breast pump tubes and planning your day around the next feed it won’t always be like this. It does get better. Honest!
Did you breastfeed any of your babies or support a partner who did? Can you relate to any of these? I’d love to know which ones!
Linking up with these fabulous blogs!
I wish I’d breast fed L for longer. I loved it. Sadly l didn’t feel supported enough at work to pump, l know the laws but employers need to do more than just supply the bare minimum. So I stopped at 9 months. Our had definitely gotten so much easier by then too! #coolmumclub
This actually is the golden time of breastfeeding! After struggling so much in the early days I really enjoyed feeling my daughter when she was one which is really why I kept going for a few more months yet. Thanks for linking up to #coolmumclub with this xoxo
I can relate to all of these! I’m breastfeeding my 2.5 year old and it does bug me when people ask how my son copes at nursery or when I’m working, as if he can’t survive a few hours without a boob in his mouth! I have to remind myself that most people’s experiences of breastfeeding are limited to the early days of constant feeds and leaky boobs. It’s so different by the age of one #coolmumclub
Aww lovely advice…I still have a packet of breast pads in my cupboard that I don’t know what to do with, it seems wrong just throwing them haha! x
#coolmumclub
My LB was born at 26 weeks and was suspected to have NEC in the early days. My LB also had chronic lung disease. He was in hospital for
5 months and during that time I expressed and he was fed exclusively EBM. Even when he was not much gaining weight i worked the the lactation consultant and instead provided LB with only hind milk. He put weight on at a better rate than babies in the unit on formula. It was very hard and it would have been very easy to give up. My LB is home now is 10 months old and I still express. We tried breast feeding a few times and we both really enjoyed the special momwnt we thought that we might never have but LB was finding the changing between boob and bottle a little much and I couldn’t be sure he was getting enough milk (fluid intake and weight gain still vital) My LB is now exclusively bottle fed EBM. It is hard to fit in 5/6 times to express in the day, but it is worth it to know thw benefits he is getting. Of all the mum a from the unit I am the only one still breast feeding and the only one managed to keep my LB from returning to hospital this winter.
I have a freestyle pump and I even express in public and have done in reataurants/cafes before now!
I wish our journey would have meant that I could breast feed but with the help.of my freestyle I have the next best thing! I go back to work in 2 months and will be carrying on expressing!
I agree with the above and coasters seems a good idea for surplus breastpads!
I did, and for way longer than that (but out of laziness rather than political or idealogical reasons). I think the rates are down because it’s very hard for some people, and people have to go back to work at that’s hard too. #KCACOLS
I had no idea that your boobs rearranged to normal size after six months! I only breastfed for a little bit and assumed that the hard rocks were gonna be there as long as I breastfed! Lovely post and well done you for breastfeeding for so long.
Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next time
I breastfed for around 3 weeks but stepped away for various reasons. I think the bond is incredible and you’re right, I don’t think you tend to notice it in public these days. #kcacols
I breastfed my son to ten months mostly, he had one bottle a day. My daughter is 11 weeks old this week and I am EBFing her. She’s had a couple of bottles of breastmilk to make sure she will take one as I have theatre tickets in a couple of weeks but I plan to EBF till 1yo. I’ve found it a lot easier second time round. My son struggled with a good latch although we got there eventually, my daughter latched straight away and had no problems. #KCACOLS
I breastfed my daughter but as she’s 38 it’s rather a long time ago so it is a bit of a distant memory! However, although I was very young when I had her it just seemed the natural thing to do and she was a very easy baby when it came to feeding. #KCACOLS
This is pretty low. Snappy weaned himself at nine months, my wife would’ve carried on but he wasn’t interested. #kcacols
My Mrs., she breastfed both girls until 3? They definitely had teeth and could talk. I find it so amazing how opinionated people are if you breastfeed, or don’t breastfeed. How long or how short you do it — people, it’s all about the baby and nutrition! bonding and emotional ties. Nurturing! And both of my girls, would not take a bottle from me, even if she pumped. Threw it across the room and wanted the real deal. Keep up the great work! #kcacols xoxo
Well done you for breastfeeding this long, I gave up after 3 months, I just found it excruciatingly painful and so so hard! #KCACOLS
I am still breastfeeding my fourth baby (first time breastfeeding) and I was adamant I was stopping at 6 months. Imogen has just turned one (5th Jan) and we are still breastfeeding and I can’t imagine the time when we aren’t! I agree with all your points but especially the breast pads one!! No more leaks yay!!