|
Melody Bateman was just seventeen when she became a mum. Despite
lots of unhelpful advice she has managed to breastfeed successfully!
She realised as her son reached 10 months that she was only trying
to stop breastfeeding as she thought she 'should' not because she
wanted to. This is the story of one brave young mum, breaking breastfeeding
taboos and helping other mums to do the same.
I was pleased to prove the midwife wrong
James was born in May 2003, at the time I was 17 and my partner
was 29. I planned to breastfeed and had support from friends and
family. James showed very little interest in breastfeeding in the
first few days. Some midwives were helpful and supportive but one
told me "he's not going to do it, you're going to have to bottle
feed." This annoyed me as I really wanted to breastfeed. But the
next day James had his first proper feed since! I pleased to have
proven that midwife wrong! It took James and I four days to breastfeed,
and we were allowed home.
All was going well until…
Breastfeeding went well until I experienced a pain in my right
breast, and a red inflamed patch. James was about 4 months old and
was feeding continuously. I thought it would pass but it didn't.
A week later I had flu-like symptoms and almost stopped feeding
him. I had to go to the emergency doctors and was told I had Mastitis
and I should stop breastfeeding and take anti-biotics. I took the
tablets but decided to continue feeding James as I couldn't bare
to stop. I used nipple shields and although I dreaded each feed
as it was agony, I managed to continue breastfeeding.
Not long after finishing my antibiotics I had thrush which transferred
to James's mouth via breastfeeding. I had to see the doctor to get
some capsules for me and a liquid form for James. Fortunately this
cleared up. Things were OK for a few months until I had mastitis
again, James was about 7 months old. I recognised my symptoms immediately
and went straight to the emergency doctors (it was a weekend again!)
and was told yet again to stop breastfeeding. This doctor couldn't
understand why I breastfed an older baby! I continued breastfeeding
and took the tablets.
To stop or not to stop…
When James was 10 months I thought I should stop breastfeeding.
I put him and myself through 2 weeks of hell trying to wean him.
Then I Met another mum at my local Surestart who breastfed her 3
year old and was allowing him to self-wean. From that day I decided
to do the same. I was only trying to stop breastfeeding as I thought
I 'should,'not because I wanted to. Since then I've participated
in a small Television news slot promoting breastfeeding, and I trained
to be a voluntary Breastfeeding Peer Supporter and learnt so much
about breastfeeding. Including you shouldn't stop breastfeeding
with Mastitis!! I now support mums with breastfeeding, along with
fellow Peer Supporters. I've met lots of mothers who still breastfeed
toddlers which has given me the confidence to still be breastfeeding
my beautiful son who will be two this May!
Where to next?
|
