BREAST FEEDING

Breast Feeding is the best way to feed your baby as it gets them off to a good start.
I know from personal experience when you are young you are put off breast feeding because you feel people are looking at you.
With my first child I didn’t want to breast feed as I was scared people would judge me harshly because I do not look my age.
I also thought it was wrong getting my breasts out in public.
 
I do wish I had breast fed my first son now because he had a really bad immune system & he became very ill.
I know now that this was not my fault, but wish I had breast fed to maybe strengthen him a bit.

Breast feeding helps build the immune system up ready for when baby moves on to solids (Hard Foods).
I did breast feed my other 2 children, but with limited success.
I only breast fed my little girl for 4 months because my nipples became really sore and started to bleed.
I started to express my milk for a while, and fed her it using a bottle, but then I had to stop that as well as my nipples became terribly sore.
I felt like I had failed not only at breast feeding but as a mother, but i was told by the health visitor that visited me regularly that I hadn't failed but that I gave my little girl the best possible start to life, but all the same, I still didn’t feel good about it.
I breast fed my little boy until he was 2 months old, once again my nipples became really sore and started to bleed so I made a decision to put him on formula milk.
When stopping breast feeding I went through many emotions as a new mother would but if your child is hungry you have to feed them however you can.
I became very withdrawn and irritated when my breast got sore, and also couldn’t concentrate properly on my other children. My son also wouldn’t sleep and wanted to be fed a lot.
I feel the decision I made to put my youngest on formula was for the best as he is doing a lot better and is sleeping.  I know in my heart even breast feeding my children for that short space in time I gave my children the best start to life.
This is my personal experience; breast feeding is different for everyone.
At the end of the day what is best for you will be best for your child, if I could have breast fed my children longer I would have.  If you try to breast feed don’t give up unless you have to, carry on as long as you can.
Things you also need to know about breast feeding is that you must eat healthily because everything you eat will be passed on to your baby.
Also breast feeding helps you loose the weight you gained whilst you are pregnant and it does work!
You wont even have to think about diets just eat healthy food and get plenty of exercise you will give your baby the best start to life.         

Margaret - Humberside   

               Post natal depression
Post Natal Depression is also known as PND.

Post Natal Depression can start from the moment you have a baby.

It starts off as the baby blues. As soon as you think you have baby blues do not be scared to tell someone because there are support groups out there for you.
 
There are also several health professionals you can talk to i.e. your DOCTOR, NURSE, HEALTH VISTOR, and MIDWIFE.

You really don't need to be scared of talking to any one.
They can then go though what options you can take.
You can take anti depressants or you can help yourself and with the help of support groups.
I am a mum who had post natal depression 3 years ago.
it was caused by my ex partner who was taking drugs and didn’t want to take part in the role of being a father, So i was left to do everything like the nappies the bottles all the caring side.
I also had to see to my baby alone every time he cried. 
My house was always full of his friends, and so we never had any time on our own.
My depression got so bad that when I finally asked the doctor for some respite care so that i could get myself better; the powers that be decided that my son had to be admitted to hospital for a week.
Then social services got involved, they said in their opinion could not look after my son in the state i was in.  
Even though i constantly thought about my son while he was in hospital i was also trying to keep my relationship going with my baby’s father because i really thought i was in love with him.
But i wasn’t it was all in my mind.
Then once my son came out of hospital he went to stay with his paternal grandmother where he could be cared for properly while I recovered, social services then said i could have him back once i had sorted my self out.
My depression got even worse but when i told people I still had depression i was called a liar, because at that time there was no one I could talk to about post natal depression,  because there was no support group for me to attend.
I wish there had been because maybe just maybe i would still have my son with me today.
But i got that bad that social services decided it would be in my sons’ best interests to put him up for adoption, and regardless how I fought, they had the power, and won. My son has now been adopted.
I have since gotten the correct help, ended the relationship I was in… and moved on, and though I will never forget my beloved son, I am in a new relationship... have a beautiful Daughter, and recently gave birth to another son.
So my advice is don’t be scared to seek advice from professionals because you can get help and they will help you though it, and your story can be so different from mine.          

Kimberley, Hull uk