This Breastfeeding Week, we’re celebrating all the parents out there who are in the thick of feeding their babies. Whether you’re breastfeeding, pumping, triple-feeding or formula feeding, how you choose to feed your baby is such a personal choice. But one thing’s for sure, it can be joyful and exhausting - and filled with plenty of challenges! - all at the same time.
In excerpts taken from her book Mama You Got This, our co-founder Emma shares her story about both breastfeeding and bottle feeding her babies.
Booby Spice
I’d known early on that I wanted to at least try breastfeeding. I’m lucky to have a liberal circle of friends: some have never breastfed at all and others have done it for years, but there was no pressure or judgement from the people around me to choose breast- over bottle-feeding. But I know the pressure exists, and that it is a very specific kind of quiet and judgemental pressure, one that only women seem to put on each other.
I know that for some mums there is a real sense of disappointment and sadness if breastfeeding doesn’t work out. I managed not to carry any of that expectation around with me. I knew I wanted to give it a go, and of course I wondered if I would be able to do it, but I was also prepared to switch to the bottle without giving myself too much of a hard time, if that’s what I needed to do.
So here I was in the hospital, experiencing this entirely natural and yet completely bizarre thing: sitting in bed with my new baby clamped onto my left boob, the feeling of little strings somehow being pulled inside me as the milk began to flow down tubes I’d never even known were there.
Breastfeeding in the early stages wasn’t plain sailing but like everything when you’re a mumma, the tough times are a phase and they pass. As we settled into our feeds it all felt quite emotional, it was astonishing to feel the synchronicity with my baby and I will always treasure that time.
The journey of breast feeding both my children was a blessing and I feel so incredibly privileged as I know this is not the case for every mum. There is not always the support there that we really need.”
Getting out and about
As my confidence grew and Beau seemed to settle into something resembling a schedule, I began to get out and about more and feed him on the go. I always had a scarf or a big muslin handy - not because I was particularly embarrassed, but because it just felt right for me.
I know other people who didn’t mind getting their boobs out and others who had big breastfeeding scarves to cover everything. All of these things are OK in my book, it’s about whatever makes you feel comfortable.
Introducing bottles and formula
We started introducing bottles and formula milk to Beau at the beginning of the Spice Girls world tour. I was lucky that I could bring my baby with me to work, but, like any working mum I still needed my partner to be able to take on some of the feeding duties so I could do my job. Luckily Beau quickly worked out that he liked the taste of formula, and switched between the breast and bottle quite happily.
I was, for the most part, extremely happy to be able to share some of the feeding load with Jade at last, to reclaim some of the precious minutes of the day for myself, feel less like a milk machine or have a glass of wine if I wanted to. It was just lovely to watch Jade feeding him.
But the Mama Bear in me also felt a sadness about letting go of those feeds. It had been such a bonding experience, and I knew it was time with Beau that I wouldn’t get back.
Before I could get too misty-eyed about breastfeeding about breastfeeding Beau, it was time to start weaning, and oh my goodness did that keep me busy!”
However you’re choosing to feed your baby, don’t forget to ask for support where you need it. Here at Kit & Kin, we understand just how tough feeding a little one can be in those early days - but remember, you know your little one better than anybody else. You’ve got this, and you’re doing great!
(c) Excerpts from Mama You Got This - by Emma Bunton, 2021
