Breastfeeding: our greatest hits

August 7, 2015

Breastfeeding babies and toddlers

Breastfeeding toddlers

As it’s National Breastfeeding Week, I’m taking part in the Keep Britain Breastfeeding Scavenger Hunt (yesterday’s post was on my top tips for breastfeeding support).

Today’s theme is about the end of breastfeeding journeys,  so I was going to write about pregnancy and breastfeeding, stopping feeding with Eliza and then starting again with Florence.

But instead, I’ve decided to talk about all my favourite memories, moments and things that have stood out about feeding my two babies. Here’s our greatest hits:

  • When it all eventually all started going right with Eliza (when she gained weight and it stopped feeling like I was being sharply punched repeatedly in both nipples)
  • The first time I fed her in public, and it was all at once weird and terrifying and intimidating, but only at first, and then it was fine all the hundreds of times after that, and now I don’t even think about it and often have some or all of a boob exposed at most times, accidentally, of course
  • All the cake and chat
  • That time feeding on the packed bus in central London, when an old lady tapped me on the shoulder and I braced for something negative and she said ‘that’s so lovely to see.’
  • When we hit six months and couldn’t see any reason to stop, and the same at a year, 18 months, and past two, much to my amazement
  • Feeding second-time-round, in the hospital when newborn Florence latched on and then didn’t seem to stop, with absolutely no issues, pain or problems
  • Everything I learned in my breastfeeding hacks
  • The realisation that you don’t have to be tied to the sofa to feed (although it is a lovely excuse to sit down)
  • A time when newborn Florence was crying, and Eliza shouted ‘give her boobie, mummy!’ and then pulled one out of my top. Luckily, we were home alone
  • Whenever it’s been a great excuse to buy new clothes (What? None of my old ones have boob access, OK?)
  • Every time Eliza’s pretended to feed her toys
  • Every time breastfeeding has been the almost instant answer to a question about soothing, comfort, hurt or sleep.
  • All the hundreds of other times when it wasn’t about anything else other than the two of us…or this time, the three of us.

I’ve had two very different experiences so far. First time it was a big deal, it was massive. We needed a lot of help and support at the start, there was a lot of pain and even more tears Second time it’s been wonderful and unremarkable. But both times it’s such a big part of our lives in many ways, despite being so commonplace I don’t even think about it now.

It’s the thing that surprised me most about motherhood, and it’s what worked for us. Like the tagline to the current Ikea ad – guess where we were yesterday? – it’s the wonderful everyday.

What’s your favourite / fondest breastfeeding memory?

Thanks for hopping over from Just Motherhood and this is my post for the Keep Britain Breastfeeding Scavenger Hunt Day 7 The End of the Journey; sponsors today include Close Parent who are providing an organic Close Caboo Organic Carrier, a £20 voucher from Burble Baby and a breastfeeding necklace of your choice from Baby Beads for our Grand Prize winner. Over £700 worth of goodies are up for grabs – get your entries via this Rafflecopter widget:

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For more on the end of breastfeeding journeys, please hop on over  to Positive About Breastfeeding where you can also gain further entries into the grand prize draw. Full terms and conditions can be found on the Keeping Britain Breastfeeding website. UK residents only.

More posts: busting myths about breastfeeding, breastfeeding and social media, all my breastfeeding posts.

14 Comments

  • Helen McGonigal

    August 7, 2015 at 7:23 am

    What a lovely post! I really enjoyed reading about your fondest breastfeeding memories. Made me feel warm and fuzzy. 🙂

  • gemma clark

    August 7, 2015 at 10:01 am

    Unfortunately with my first I only fed her for 2 weeks, but am 30 weeks pregnant now with my second and determined to make it work this time. So hopefully that final feed will be a lot later on x

  • Jo Bryan

    August 7, 2015 at 12:49 pm

    My final feed was when my twins were 5 and a half months old.

  • Samantha loughlin

    August 7, 2015 at 7:18 pm

    6 months was my last feed

  • Jenni – Odd Socks and Lollipops

    August 7, 2015 at 9:35 pm

    What a fantastic post – it’s so lovely to read your breastfeeding best bits! I think I am going to have to compile a similar list so that I can look back and smile when my breastfeeding journey with Boo ends.
    No finally feed (Boo fed just before she went to bed) and I hope it’s a good few months off yet!

  • Janice Mackin

    August 8, 2015 at 9:36 am

    Love your greatest hits! I am still breastfeeding my 18 month old.

  • kim neville

    August 8, 2015 at 11:57 am

    I stopped at 6 months as had to return to work

  • Rosie

    August 8, 2015 at 11:57 am

    Still going, so no final feed yet.

  • Rachel

    August 8, 2015 at 9:10 pm

    I had a hard, often painful and frustrating start to breastfeeding with my son, but after a while feeding just clicked into place. I think it helped when he just got a bit bigger and could open his mouth wider! I’m back at work now so it’s formula in the day and I feed him first thing in the morning and before bed. A lovely way to start and end the day together.

  • Adventures of a Novice Mum

    August 8, 2015 at 10:22 pm

    How lovely … so many hits. Isn’t it just nice to know you don’t have to tied to the sofa to feed .. So many hits, so many memories.

    Love the ‘wonderful & unremarkable’ & the ‘wonderful everyday’; the NORMAL in it all but also the SPECIAL :-).

    Our story continues and so many special moments for us too. I love our games at the boobs: the eye winks and squeezes, the moving heads and exploring fingers 🙂

    Thanks for sharing. #PositiveAboutBF

    1. gillian

      August 9, 2015 at 11:54 am

      I know, such a revelation 🙂 Although I do miss it (downfalls of second children, I guess!) x

  • Lizzy Cooper

    August 8, 2015 at 10:38 pm

    I haven’t had mine yet! 🙂

  • Shirley

    August 12, 2015 at 4:15 pm

    Can still feel tears when I think of the end of so easy and lovely breastfeeding

  • Darcy

    September 4, 2015 at 10:19 am

    Really amazing Blog, I look up to you when trying to write my own.

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