There is no shame in asking for help

Charlotte's story

Breastfeeding has had a few ups and downs, but mostly ups!

I wasn’t fussed about how I would feed my first baby. I thought it might be nice to breastfeed, but still bought everything to formula feed just in case. Once my son was born, I felt this intense need to breastfeed him. He didn’t latch properly for the first twenty-four hours, but then fed like an absolute trooper, and weaned just before his fifth birthday.

My second was born during lockdown so I had less support. His weight was dropping down the centiles and he was eventually diagnosed with a tongue-tie. We had to go to London for a division but he then started to thrive and he weaned at two-and-a-half-years.

My third has been the simplest –breastfeeding just happened beautifully and naturally. I have no idea how long he will feed for, but we’re hoping to get to at least two years.

My own journey has led me to volunteer as a breastfeeding peer supporter – a role which I love.

My community midwife during my first pregnancy said to me: “There is always a breastfeeding solution to a breastfeeding problem,” so ask for help if you need it. There is no shame in asking, and as a peer supporter, I love giving new parents the reassurance that they need."