i just spent the weekend with my mother, whom i hadn’t seen for about a year, and we spent a long time flipping through photo albums of my very early childhood. i was happy to see that there were so many pictures of my first year, not because i liked the photos of myself so very much, but because of the images of my parents with me — holding, feeding, playing — they were really heartwarming. i thought of you and pete, and i hope that you’re taking lots of photos and maybe thinking about printing them (when you have the time) for rewarding viewing later in life.

Can i really STRONGLY recommend the book ‘what to expect when you’re breastfeeding and what if you can’t by Clare Byam-Cook’. Really helped me sort out myth from muddle and getting him latched on.

We are now combining EBM bottle and breast with nipple shield (when bub is so inclined) and he’s doing well, no confusion to be found. we didnt even do the cup because part of our issue was bubs being too excited for food – he’s knock the precious item to the floor given half a chance.

Gotta ask though WHY did you express colostrum for hours and hours – you either have lots (like i did, holy cow i could have fed every kid in the ward bar mine who couldnt be bothered) or you dont, before your milk comes in – you must be sore, girl!

(what?!)

On a slightly different topic, we are getting increasingly annoyed at the mother-centric provision of changing facilities in public places. Changing units seem to be always in the ladies’ loo, rarely in the gents or in a dedicated room. It seems to be worse for older children – my brother-in-law and his wife have recently separated and B-i-L took his daughter out this weekend (she’s six years old) and she was very sick in the car – but was there anywhere where he and she could go together in order to clean her up? Nothing in service stations, pubs, cafes or public toilets, so they had to abort their trip and drive home with very unpleasant smells in the car. You’d think that, given divorce rates in the UK, there would be more provision for dads alone with their children, but there isn’t. Maybe the government could spend money on this instead of wasting it on some of their other daft projects.

Anyhow, rant over, and congratulations for all you’ve achieved so far. There is no better feeling for parents (especially mum) when the baby starts gaining weight and the only source of that gain is from breast milk.

I did want to get the pom poms out and give the three of you a cheer though. Glad end of week one is going well even if it took some time to kick off. You’re fantastic.

Also I know now a lot more about breast feeding which bring up my knowledge from “nothing” to “slightly more than nothing”. I one day might be able to have a non sexual discussion about breasts myself. Just possibly not in the summer.

All of it does get better, really. It sounds like you are all three doing very well and that this wee baby is in the hands of very capable parents. Keep up the good work.

I had much the same problem – flat nipples, not much to hold on to for the little one.

Good for you Also very happy that you’ve not beat yourself up about anything