Breastfeeding diaries...

This post is from Amy Shipham. Her story is a reminder that breastfeeding doesn't work out for everyone.

I saw your request on the netmums site and thought i would reply with a different angle on breastfeeding.
When I was pregnant and at antenatal classes, they made breastfeeding sound so easy and so important to the childs development that I thought "why wouldn't you breastfeed?" there was no alternative for me I was obviously going to breastfeed my child.

My daughter was born and we couldn't get her to breastfeed, everyone tried to help me and she would not latch on. I expressed for 2 weeks and gave up.
Trying to breastfeed stressed out Bethany and me, I got PND and bethany was scared of skin contact (from being pushed onto me and having a nipple forced at her), it seriously damaged our bonding and it took us weeks to bond properly after this.
Beth has been perfectly healthy and really seemed to enjoy bottled milk.
I hope to tell my story to other mothers, so they don't feel so pressurised into breastfeeding and so they don't feel like such a failure if they don't. I still believe breastfeeding is better for the child and mother, but it wasn't for Beth! If we have another child I will attempt breastfeeding again, but will be more willing to stop trying if it doesn't work for us again.

Thanks Amy. Don't forget to send your stories to info@mamascarf.co.uk