Twelve Short Months: what I wish I had known then

We arrived home with a three day old baby. I was still crippled with pain and discomfort from the cesarean. L was feeding lots but very well. My milk hadn't come in yet. 

We were in the eye of the storm. That quiet bit when you think danger has passed but in fact you're still in the middle of the drama and should be preparing for another direct hit. 

Father's Day passed in a happy mood of cuddles and feeding and the slight discomfort of milk coming in. I was on the the pain killers and thought the increasing pain was par for the course. After a feast of, much missed while pregnant, sushi, I attempted to go to bed with L around 8pm. She was by my side of the bed for easy night feeding access. 

On our first night home in a hand knit and next to our bed, it was hard not to
stay awake watching her. 

Now and Then

I have had a lot of comments recently from a variety of people regarding my continuing breastfeeding journey with L. 

Lots are along the lines of "Wow you're still feeding her?" L has just turned seven months.

And this has gotten me thinking. I have written before about breast feeding L. And mentioned that we had a bit of a shakey start emotionally as the demands were high and the impact of this hard to cope with. 

Preparing to breastfeed.

Breastfeeding is natural. All you need is a mum and a baby. 

Tosh in my opinion. 

Breastfeeding and me

Yesterday the news and my twitter feed was full of the story concerning £200 shopping vouchers for breast feeding mothers. The vouchers will be given in stages if mothers sign a contract stating they are breastfeeding for first six weeks and the six months. It is a small pilot currently being run in an area where breastfeeding rates are particularly low.

Now.