Breast is Best

Breast feeding on demand may turn our bodies into 24 hour room service but at least there is no shopping, preparation or washing-up required to ensure our babies a safe, wholesome meal.

Easy, right?

In the UK, middle-class women, particularly those who have managerial positions in the work place are currently leading the way with breast feeding. Breast feeding is fashionable and it is a hot topic for expectant mums. When I introduced my new born to the neighbour, all she wanted to know was did I breast feed? The male painter and decorator, who was a part of the gathering at that point, didn’t want to know and excused himself.

The medical profession recommend breast feeding as “best” and there are numerous sources that advise breastfeeding to protect our babies from infections and diseases. Breast feeding has a multitude of health benefits. Moreover, breast feeding enhances the bonding process between mother and baby.

Within twenty minutes of giving birth, a midwife on the hospital ward asked me, “Are you going to breast feed?” I can’t remember if I even had time to answer before she placed the baby at an angle that took me two weeks to master. For a process as natural as breast feeding you would expect it to be as straight forward as the mid-wife had made it seem.

When I was on the maternity ward my eyes were opened to the frustration of breast feeding.

The nurses worked tirelessly to enable us to get the hang of breast feeding before we went home to the 'temptation' of formula. The ward was run in military fashion. I remember being trained to watch the clock 24 hours a day. What time was it? When did he last feed? How long was the feed for? Was I sure that he was feeding?

And then, there was all of the advice...

Hold this way or hold that way, blow on the cheek, tickle the ear, sit up more, relax more, put a pillow here or put a pillow there, sit in the chair this way or sit in the chair that way, try not to do this or try to do that.

It was seemingly endless.

During the early hours of the morning I would hear the mother in the bed next to mine, behind the curtain, weeping out of strain because her baby wouldn’t latch. I don’t know what she would have done if she hadn’t have had such a supportive husband and such a thorough medical team behind her.

Over the next couple of days, I listened through the curtain to all the tips and then I diligently applied them. I made a note of the cream for sore nipples, just in case I ever needed it, and gradually I learned how to feed my baby and to feed him regularly enough to reassure the hospital staff that I could take him home.

As my mother-in-law has pointed out, since then and several times, I apparently have it easy. Breastfeeding eliminates the need for formula preparation and bottle sterilisation. With breast feeding, the milk is always the right temperature, always available and always free.

Faithful to the advice of the World Health Organisation, I have waited six months until weaning. Up until recently, my baby has been breastfed exclusively and on demand. I am, however, having recently met a mother who suffered tremendously with nipple thrush relieved that breast feeding has been a relatively straight forward process for me.