Happy Baby Corner: breastfeeding support groups

Our Baby and Breastfeeding Encouragement and Support groups (known as BABES groups) offer a welcoming atmosphere for all mums who breastfeed.

Happy Baby Corner: concerns of a breastfeeding mum

Starting to breastfeed can be a difficult time. You’re tired and emotional and then your new baby decides it’s time to feed, feed…and feed again!

As part of our new Happy Baby Corner series, Alison Jee, Infant Feeding Lead for the Trust, shares some of the most common concerns of a new breastfeeding mum and some tips for overcoming them.

“The support group helped me realise I wasn't alone. And I was doing a good job!”

Nicole, 37, always knew she wanted to breastfeed. Her mum had breastfed her, and Nicole had already done the same with her three sons. 

However, when she had her fourth child, Scarlett, breastfeeding didn’t go quite as well as she expected.

After finding support at her local breastfeeding support group, run by the Trust, Nicole is now sharing her story seven months on, to encourage other mums who are struggling to access the help that’s available.

“The first few weeks were very hard and draining” Nicole explains. “Scarlett had lost a lot of weight and wanted to be fed constantly. My husband and sons helped around the house so I could concentrate on feeding Scarlett, but I was tired and upset, and I felt I was failing her.

“When the Health Visitor came to visit, she referred Scarlett to a pediatrician to check everything was ok. The pediatrician said Scarlett was doing everything she should be doing. She told me breastfed babies should have a different chart in the red book to formula-fed babies as they digest breast milk easier, so feed more often, and some babies may take a little longer before they begin to follow the weight chart."

“Breastfeeding doesn’t come naturally to all mums. Some of us need a bit more support!”

For Charlotte, 30, memories of breastfeeding her first baby were tinged with sadness. After three weeks struggling to feed her newborn son, she made the difficult decision to stop. It’s something she has always regretted.

But, when she had her second baby, Jacob, last year, she decided to give breastfeeding another go, this time armed with support from her local breastfeeding support group, run by the Trust. 

Now, over a year later, Charlotte is sharing her breastfeeding story, to encourage other mums who are struggling to access the help that’s available.

“The first few weeks were very difficult” Charlotte explains. “Jacob was a ‘sleepy feeder’ and would take up to an hour to feed – and then he’d be hungry again an hour later. Not ideal with having a toddler too. I had very painful nipples. And then developed mastitis as well, which was extremely painful. When the Health Visitor came to visit one day, I was so upset I just burst into tears. I was already struggling – this was the last thing I needed!"

“I never thought I’d be a Mum who went to groups, but I wouldn’t be without my boob group now!”

Hannah, 32, always knew she wanted to breastfeed but, during the first few days of motherhood, it didn’t go quite as she’d hoped.

However, after finding support at her local breastfeeding group, run by the Trust, Hannah is now sharing her story to encourage other mums who are struggling to access the help that’s available.

At a few days old, Hannah’s new son, Isaac, was admitted to hospital with weight loss after struggling to latch on. It was a hard time for new parents Hannah and Simon. “The first few weeks were very difficult” Hannah explains. “I felt guilty for not being able to provide what Issac needed. Feeding was painful. And the struggle affected my relationship with Simon – he wanted to start formula feeding, so we could see how much Isaac was having. But I was determined to succeed at breastfeeding! I wasn’t ready to give up.”