Sharing Sunday- Fathers Day Special

Posted on By BFT

This weeks Sharing Sunday is a little bit different because in honour of Fathers day- we’re hearing from…a dad!

Peter (aka Martha’s Dad!) has shared his experience of having a new baby and supporting his wife Terri with breastfeeding. Dads, your experience may be very different to mum’s, but your support is incredible and your stories matter so much to us!

Here’s Peter’s…

Supporting Terri with breastfeeding was easy at the beginning. I think it’s natural, it’s the way mum and baby bond and more beneficial than formula – what with how mum is passing on antibodies, immunity… We are mammals and that’s what breasts are for. They are not just fun bags! Breastfeeding helps us respond to what baby needs. I ensured she had everything she needed…remote control, drinks, food. Made a flask of tea before work so she had at least one hot drink. It helps to see breastfeeding as perfectly normal to do in public and being a daddy bear ready to growl at anyone suggesting any different. I loved being proud and not ashamed when my wife was feeding in public.

For me, I really don’t feel it affected bonding. I couldn’t provide that in the same way but that’s just one thing a baby needs. Nappy changing, baths, naps, comfort – I could do all of those. And I found it was a nice bonding experience with my wife. I really enjoyed looking after her after she’d been the one giving birth.

There were highs and lows of course – for me some of the highs were having that time where she’s feeding to myself. I found it emotional seeing my baby enjoying booby. It was great not having to wash and sterilise bottles, not having to wait whilst baby is screaming for milk. Not having to get all sorts ready for going out. The lows… to be honest there were no lows. It’s not a problem being unable to take baby out for any length of time alone as you don’t need to be alone to bond. You don’t have to hold something all the time to bond. My wife pumped once baby was older so I could take baby places then, or get a babysitter and go out together with her.
If you’re a new dad supporting a breastfeeding mum – just go with it. Be thankful for the less workload without bottles and that your partner wanted to give your baby the best possible start. Be the protector lion when your partner is feeding in public. Don’t come across all shy when your wife gets her boob out as that will just make it difficult. Remember it’s just a gland and we’re mammals; imagine David Attenborough narrating!

💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗

Topic Tuesday-You, me and Empathy

Posted on By BFT

First Published on www.facebook.com/breastfeedingtogether as part of the Topic Tueday series on 11/06/19.

Each week there seems to be a different ‘day’ that we are recognising. And whilst we are probably not too interested in the Garfield the Cat Day (17th June if you are interested) today is…….. <drum roll>

Empathy Day……. and this is definitely one BfT can get on board with.

Empathy is the very essence of what we do.

“Can you describe empathy?” Is one of the first questions we ask our new trainees as they are working towards being BfT volunteers. And it can take a while for them to really get their heads round it. Empathy is so much more than feeling sorry for someone, or imagining how the other person is feeling. True empaths put themselves in the position of the other person and can relate to how that person is feeling within that situation- and we’ve got an office full of empaths!!!

Empathy allows us to support without prejudice, without judgement and means that we always put that mother and family’s needs first. We may have a mother making different choices than we did or would make, but wonderful empathy means we can understand why, and can fully support that mum with her choices.

When we have empathy, a family feels less defensive and more positive- and that’s when we can really start solving problems together!

Our empathy is real and genuine, we feel your highs and lows with you.

We see with another’s eyes

We hear with another’s ears.

We feel with another’s heart.

We see echoes of ourselves in your story, and genuinely want to support you in your choices.

So actually, it’s a great day to be recognised and celebrated, after all who doesn’t want to feel that they have someone in their corner and on their side.

Meet The Team- Julia

Posted on By BFT

Hi, I’m Julia and I’ve got one daughter who’s 2 and a half. When she was about 8 months old I did the level 2 peer support training as I wanted to do something valuable with my time and felt supporting breastfeeding is really important.

When I qualified I started by volunteering mainly at Atherton breastfeeding group and going on the ward once a month. I have recently finished the level 3 peer support course and have branched out quite a bit and tried lots of different areas – antenatal, live chat…it’s been really interesting exploring the different ways we support.

I now also work in community and enjoy this role loads too!

Topic Tuesday- Over to you for Volunteers Week!

Posted on By BFT

It’s Volunteers Week, so Topic Tuesday this week had to be a little shout out to our volunteers!

We’re so proud of our volunteers as we know what a difference they make to families’ lives.

Our fantastic volunteers enable BfT to provide 24 hour support to families, and offer them support throughout their breastfeeding journey, from antenatal bonding to stopping breastfeeding a toddler!

It’s women supporting women, women empowering women, and it’s a very special something to be part of.

We think they are amazing, and we know you do too………so this week, Topic Tuesday is over to you!!!

Pop on a comment……How have our Peer Supporters made a difference to you?

Join us in celebrating our wonderful volunteers!

 

💕Sharing Sunday-Volunteers Week Special💕

Posted on By BFT

First published on www.facebook.com/breastfeedingtogether to mark the start of volunteers week 2019, celebrating our 2 most recent ‘Volunteer of the Year’ winners.

Amy’s Story

After having great support with my 1st child from the day after he was born until he was a toddler and regularly attending my local breastfeeding groups and seeing the need for support and information I decided to train as a peer supporter. I already volunteer in the community and as most people knew I breastfed they asked for information and Iwanted to be able to give the correct information and help them further when needed.
I enjoyed the training and met lots of new friends. I have tried lots of the different volunteer roles, antenatal classes, baby boxes, the hospital maternity ward, live chat and breastfeeding support groups and they are all interesting and rewarding. It’s great to help mums make an informed choice and achieve their feeding goals. Having now fed two children and come up against a few difficulties myself this gives me empathy and understanding of the mums and I’m proud to be part of a service that are there as a listening ear when mums need us. 

Sue’s Story

I’m Sue and am honoured to be awarded ‘Volunteer of the Year 2018’.
I have volunteered in all areas of the service across the last 2 and half years.
I’ve made calls and texts to mums from the office, I’ve been to antenatal clinics and go to groups during the holidays. You might also have meet me at the Baby Box events at Atherton.
I run one of the breastfeeding workshops at Platt Bridge every month and enjoy giving Mum’s and Dad’s lots of hints and tips to get breastfeeding off to a great start and answer any questions they might have.
I also volunteer on the maternity ward at Wigan Hospital and see parents from the workshop put these tips and hints into action, as well as offering practical information now that baby has arrived.
I volunteer on live chat too and am sometimes just here to listen as well as offer helpful information if there is question to be asked.
Most recently I’ve been volunteering at a local high school with pupils completing their GCSE in Child Development and getting breastfeeding information into the school curriculum as well as helping them with their coursework on breastfeeding.
I feel very privileged to be given the ‘Volunteer of the Year’ award and it sits pride of place in my house where I can look at it everyday.
The service helped me so much when my daughter was younger and I am so grateful to be given the opportunity to train and now support mum’s and dad’s as a volunteer.

Meet the Team- Sarah

Posted on By BFT


Hello, my name is Sarah. I have 3 boys, a 5 year old, Oliver and 2.5 year old twins- Henry and Toby. My breastfeeding journey on both occasions was very different! With my eldest everything went to plan, and I had a relatively straight forward feeding journey. With Henry and Toby things couldn’t have been any different. I was supported in the community by Breastfeeding Together, my peer supporter was a crucial source of support for me. It was this vital support which made me want to complete my level 2 peer support training to support other families and give something back.
I have been volunteering for Breastfeeding together for almost 2 years now, delivering antenatal workshops (most recently our breastfeeding multiples workshop!), supporting mums on the maternity ward, at groups across the borough and live chat sessions. I have also been a community supporter for 18 months, visiting mums in their homes postnatally. I feel so lucky to be able to give women support and information with their feeding choices at such an emotional and special part in their lives.

Topic Tuesday- When 2 becomes 1

Posted on By BFT
First published on www.facebook.com/breastfeedingtogether as part of the Topic Tuesday series.

Hands up! Who’s baby has a preferred boob? 

It’s something we hear a lot when we’re out and about supporting mothers.
That baby fusses more on one side, they don’t feed as effectively on one side or that they don’t feed at all on one side. Lots of mums get quite worried about this, that it’s going to cause problems. It does seem to be a thing that babies have a preferred breast.

Perhaps mum is more comfy holding baby in her more dominant hand. Perhaps baby is, for example if they’re a bit bruised from birth, they might be more comfortable on a certain side.

It could be down to mums own ‘personal plumbing’…… one side may just be a bit of a better producer and once there’s been a few extra feeds on that side the milk flows even more effectively increasing that preference further

So, is there anything we can do about it?

We can try being a bit sneaky with positions. Perhaps starting them in a rugby ball and moving over to a cross cradle or the other way round, or experimenting with some completely different positions.

If baby is feeding significantly less on one side we can use expressing on that side to keep supply up and even in both breasts and with time, baby will hopefully start to even out those feeds a bit more.

And worse case scenario, it’s completely possible to exclusively feed a baby from just one breast! Mums may worry that one breast means half the milk, but it’s simply not true, the breast will respond to the needs of that baby and produce enough milk- it’s how we’re able to breastfeed twins and multiples!

All that will happen is mum may be left slightly ‘uneven’……nothing a baggy top or bit of padding can’t resolve!

So don’t worry, you can continue to breastfeed even if two become one!