Individuals make all the difference

When I was pregnant with my second son, I decided that I would try my best to breastfeed. Breast is best, after all—and who wouldn't want the best for their baby? I had been unsuccessful the first time; my milk never came in and I started supplementing early with formula. Ten days postpartum I was diagnosed with retained placenta and endometritis, requiring readmission to hospital for intravenous antibiotics. I gave up on my dream to breastfeed, and I felt so guilty. I felt like I had let my baby down, that I was missing out on a magical bonding experience and wasn't experiencing motherhood to the fullest. I can remember every comment that midwives, doctors and health-care assistants made. Some were kind and told me to forgive myself, to look at my thriving baby; others reminded me that breast was best. It broke my heart to keep hearing that.

My negative first experience is probably what drove me to push through the barriers with breastfeeding when my second son was born. A lactation consultant called me ‘bloody minded’ (in a positive way!) and I think that sums it up.