Is Breast Best? Chat LIVE with Cherry Healey

This is a veyr negative title and immediately has put people off the programme.

If you have a so called expert shouldn't they be experts in breast feeding. Dr Trisha seems to be an expert with elderly, not breastfeeding. Again This gives the impression that she will give wrong advice. I maybe wrong but that is the impression.

Concerned that this programme will encourage even more negativity toward breastfeeding. i will definitely be watching it! Even more concerned that there doesnt seem to be a breastfeeding expert there!!!!!! What the hell?

Actually this is getting a bit tedious - yet another 'discussion' about whether breast Is Best?. Really, come on. The answer is NO - Breast is not Best - Breastfeeding is utterly and completely normal - it is what the baby born expects. It is a misnomer as it is so much more than the delivery method of food. It is nurturing - physically, emotionally, psychologically. Anything other than breastmilk has been proved to be inferior - there is NO debate. there is only choice. Do the normal thing or don't. The only problem i really have is that it is presented as an equal choice and women are not given the correct information about the hazards of formula, yes, even in developed countries. 900 babies die in the US as a result of formula yet the risks are not explained. This debate is just boring.

I can't help but think this will just encourage Mum's to give up breastfeeding early. My first month or so was really hard, it hurt a LOT and often my baby wouldn't latch so I had to pump and give it via a bottle. My baby got sick despite breastfeeding and spend week 3 and 4 of his life back in a childrens hospital, in order to continue breastfeeding I had to live in the hospital, sleep on the floor/chair whilst extremely stressed about his condition, being unable to get away (miles from home and I couldn't drive), and having very mixed opinions by the nurses. When he was originally sedated in intensive care I could only pump. They were trying to subtley discourage me from breastfeeding because I was such a mess, but we got through it and three months on we are still going strong.

I got free meal vouchers in hospital because I was breastfeeding, I once asked for one and was met with the responce of "sorry they are only for breastfeeding mothers.". I said I was, she immeidately me a voucher. Because I was a younger mum (21) it was just assumed I didn't!

I suppose I'm just voicing that it upsets me that people give up so quickly. It devalues my exprience that was an uphil, painful struggle to keep breastfeeding my son when people just look at me and assume I didn't have those problems. My nipples felt like they were getting stabbed by razorblades to start with!

If you bottle feed, you need to embrace the choice you have made. Not try and make up excuses, or feel guilty that you aren't breastfeeding or try and find some positive enforcement.

I don't judge it (most of my friends use formula) but please don't devalue my exprience by thinking you were the only ones having a hard time breastfeeding.

I see in the advert on the website it states "teen mum" as the bottle feeder..is this relevent? The media seems to like to portray bottle feeding mothers as young and unexperienced. My sister and I are both qualified nursery nurses in our late twenties and have both recently had our first child. We have seen how it can be a struggle for some mothers to breastfeed, exhaustion, guilt and not being able to give there child enough milk to satisfy them. We CHOSE to bottle feed, not tried but couldn't but CHOSE. Whilst my sister and I have totally nothing against breast feeding (indeed we can see it's many benefits) it's true to say that bottle feeding has it's good points too. We believe that what's important is that you and your baby are happy and that your baby is feeding well. You should be able to do what works best for you and your baby. Not be bullied by society.

Great to see Cherry back on TV- LOVED Cherry has a baby and so pleased to see she's back! Looking forward to tomorrow night already! x

im glad someone is finally looking in to this!!!
when i became a new mum i tried breastfeeding and found it to be the worst thing id ever done! my baby would feed for an hour, be sick and want to feed for another hour and i would be left with huge blood blisters and a breast i could not use for the rest of the day. i would be so tired and drained i couldnt get out of bed and apart form feeding i had no real time with my new baby because all i could do was feed and sleep. how was this right??it wasnt, but as soon (5 weeks in) we changed to the bottle we were both so so so happy. we have such a close bond, he is happy, health, intelligent and above all loved as much as a person can be loved.
so why was it ever wrong to bottle feed him??
when there are children in then world who are beaten, starved, abused and even murdered at the hand of there parents why is this such a BIG topic? is it not enough that are children our loved, cared for, fed!!!
the bulling around breastfeeding is whats wrong. give people the pros and cons for both and let them make up there own minds.

Another programme stuffed full of stereotypes and dubious "experts". Were you after some headlines by any chance?

Breastmilk is full of stuff we can't replicate in formula. However, formula is good enough to get by and gives people choice. End of show. Yawn.

I really hope this isn't another dreadful sensationalist piece which pits bottle feeders and breast feeders at opposite ends of a spectrum, almost as if they're going to declare war with each other.

The facts are that breastfeeding is utterly normal - that's how mothers and babies have evolved. Until a hundred years or so ago, when some businessmen realised they had a helluva lot of leftover cows' milk and started selling it to mothers, the vast overwhelming majority of mums had successfully breastfed their babies with lots of family support.

The real issue here, one which I desperately hope will be properly discussed in this programme, is that of the spectacular lack of good quality, knowledgeable support available to new mums who WANT to breastfeed, who feel guilty if they don't succeed and who only "fail" because of our society's failings in helping them when they need it most. I fear this really vital point will be completely missed in the programme-makers' quest for ratings.

i am pleased to see i am not the only one who finds the title of this show so frustrating!!!! There is no debate to be had breast milk is better for your baby than any substatute!!!! It has been proven again and again that no formular milks can even compare to human breastmilk, would the World Health Organisation recomend exclusive breastfeeding untill 6 months if this is not the case. I wonder if an hour long program educating and informing people of the benifits of breastmilk would be more benifical to what is becoming an unhealthy nation!!! i completely understand not all women find breastfeeding easy i myself breastfeed two children and not without issues but there are so many options avalible to support new mums and i wonder how much of these will be covered by what looks to be a rather negative program.

yep breast is best, but as a mum that desperatly wanted to feed her babies and for many reasons completly failed, I felt totally rubbish. The lowest I have every felt. It was the only thing I felt I should be able to do and just couldn't, felt totally rubbish and alone and even now still feel sad that I couldn't do it. So nice to see other people felt the same, midwife said she could teach of how I was doing it it was textbook but for some reason it just wasn't working for me or any of my babies.

There is a lot of pressure to breastfeed as there is in every other area of raising a baby, you feel like a failure whatever you do halfthe time! It only winds me up when people refuse point blank to try it or give up so easily, it is a fact that breast is best for baby. There is much to be said for getting the latching on right though

Why the debate? Mothers should be free to choose the method that is best for them and their babies. Breast feeding has many benefits, but formula is a perfectly good alternative and mothers should not be made to feel guilty for choosing not to breast feed and use formula instead. At the moment mothers are made to feel guilty about choosing formula, it's about time mothers were supported in their choice of feeding method. I have three children and chose to breast feed. However i did so for varying lengths of time and had a range of experiences. My youngest was seriously ill at birth and gained no weight on breast milk and therefore at 8 weeks i put him on formula, (on the advice of his consultant). This decision transformed my child from a baby who was failing to develop (had reached none of the 8 week milestones) and was under weight (2nd percentile, when he had been on the 75th at birth) to one who rapidly progressed to the 50th by 4 months It made me realise that a healthy happy and thriving baby is what 's important, not the method you choose to feed them. It is this message that we should be giving to new mothers.

Clearly the human race would not have survived without breast milk. Cow's milk is a substitute and any mother can choose to use it. Many mothers try and fail to breastfeed simply because there is not adequate professional, social or family support. Mothers have to be very determined to breastfeed because if you have any problems you find you are on your own. In previous times it was normal to breastfeed and there was a support network of friends, sisters, mothers all breastfeeding and this would give new mothers confidence. It is very sad that breastfeeding mothers are not given this much needed support.

Hi Cherry - really enjoying the programme so far. My question is what support did you receive when you first had blocked ducts etc that led to mastitis? I think a massive issue is lack of support in the UK. I had my baby at the same hospital as you and thought the support was awful. I only managed to feed my son successfully because of an amazing family friend.

Being 18, I have wanted children all my life and in the future will have them hopefully! I have always planned to breastfeed, and wouldn't do it another why but i would never think lower of anyone who didn't breastfeed because my mother found it very very painful, but me and her are best friends and couldn't be closer. In the end its every mothers choice with their own child, and if they feel its best, then go for it! Don't let anyone judge you. I am enjoying the program and learning a lot

Do you think that marketing and advertising formula milk is responsible for the decrease in breast feeding?

i was a teen mum and could not wait to start breastfeeding. As soon as i got the chance it didnt matter how much pain i went through as i just wanted to do it. I never had a problem whipping my boob on in public as it was for my child. I went back to college still breastfeeding and instead of the usual books and pens i also had breast pads.
I would never change it for anything. I had to stop breastfeeding for a week when i got ill and had to take antibiotics, during this time i used a breast pump to keep the flow then used formula. I found this time distressing for me as i felt disconnected from my 1month old baby. When i restarted i felt felt an overwhelming closeness and thats when i realise what a bonding tie it was.

I breastfed till i my daughter was 2 and occassionally do even though i dont produce milk. It is the best thing i ever did and cant believe teen mums dont do it because they are scared of what people will say. Like may teen mums i did not plan my daughter but soon as i made my mind up to keep her i made sure i do everything 100% including breastfeeding.

Personally i think breastfeeding is best and when i have more kids in my adult life i will do the same.

I'm sorry Cherry found it difficult to breastfeed. When I found out I was pregnant I was on antidepressants but was determined to breastfeed so I came off them and successfully breastfed my son. I also had to express due to my son visiting his dad. I wouldn't have had it any other way and knew it was best for my son.

I loved breastfeeding, but like most women, really struggled. I had mastitis at four weeks, which then became an abcess, which was the most painful thing I had ever know. 3 doctors saw me when it was already an abcess and none of them spotted it until we ended up in A&E in desperation. I ended up with a hole the size of an egg in my breast, an operation under general anaesthetic and weeks of nurse visits. I was so angry that no-one had helped me earlier as it meant I struggled to even hold my newborn for weeks. How common are abcesses - and please can GPs be trained to spot them earlier? I did carry on breastfeeding - from one only! - until she was six months though. It made me even more determined not to lose the chance to do it and give my daughter the best start I could.

The woman who has her own business is amazing! I think she is my new idol! Was she an inspiration to meet Cherry?

hi cherry, i loved your show and i felt so much better knowing that i was not the only one that could not do it i felt so isolated when the doctors told me i was no physicly capable of breast feeding kye it r3eally broke my heart. four years on and i still feel the same but i know that is was something i could not change. i think breast is best but it is choice at the end of the day. thanks for helping with your show

I breast fed for 6 weeks only this was because i got mastitus and had a serious low grade infection which i had to go on very strong antibiotics, when i completed my course of antibiotics my son never latched back on, i was gutted as i had been still expressing due to also having a inverted nipple that my son never latched on to.I do feel like i let my son done but he is healthy and happy but i still have a massive guilt on my shoulders!

I managed to breast feed my daughter for a few months but unfortunately could not continue as it was agonising and my poor nipples were cracked and bleeding. It got to the point where i would burst into tears mid feed and felt ultimately that it was affecting my bonding with my daughter in a negative way.
This time around..im due to give birth in 6 weeks and once again i am going to give breast feeding another go. I intend to use a breast feeding clinic and counsellor for help this time.
One other thing was that i felt so guilty after giving up. I felt as though i was being selfish and everyone was judging me. Always people would ask, "are you breastfeeding" and when i said no they would just say "ohhhhhh...well..its not easy is it". Even something like that made me feel judged and upset.

I was always determined to breast feed however after an awful labour and a week of medical problems I couldn't get the hang of breast feeding and was offered little support. In the end I expressed milk for 5 months and my partner and I both feed the baby with a bottle. Even though I fed my baby with breast milk I felt people judged me the minute the bottle came out. We all know breast feeding is best but the guilt women are made to feel when they can't or choose not to is wrong, and I can promise you the bond I have with my daughter could not be any better!!!!

hi we have 3 kids a 7year old boy a 6 year old girl and a baby of 11 months, all three started on the breast but did not take to it so they went on to the bottle milk (sma) all of them are healthy and intelligent i feel it has not affected them one bit. I do not believe you can say breast is best what i think you should say is what makes baby and mum happy is best

Breast feeding works best when the mother has enough Vitamin D, for both her and her baby, and most UK women are seriously deficient.

There is evidence from scientific trials that mothers should take larger amounts of Vitamin D than the Department of Health currently recommends.

There is more about this at: www.vitamindassociation.org

.

I breast fed from day one till my little girl was 2 years old. It was the best thing i ever did. I went back to work full time when my little girl was 9 months old, it really upset me and i felt guilty but i was determined to continue breast feeding!

I also studied in my final year for my BA Hons and did my dissertation on looking at if Breast was best because i'm so passionate about it!

I think Breast feeding needs to be out in the open more, and more postitive publicity is needed. It needs to be portrayed as a modern thing.

Why does the medical profession refuse to understand that breast feeding is not for everyone, the pressure put on mothers to breast feed is bordering on harassment, if you can do it fine but it should be a choice. Andrew father of 2

I am utterly disgusted by this program. Cherry, you are repeatedly saying how bad you found breast feeding.
The fact that you gave up on breast feeding does not make you a bad mother, it just means lack will power and determination.
I breast feed my 10 month old daughter. I found it extremely hard. I had cracked nibbles (for 8 weeks), mastitus and thrush in my nipples but i was determined to breast feed and finally became sucessful.

I think your reaction to the doctor describing the infection in your breast as imature and embarassing. You are a grown woman, behave like one!!!

WHY where the first few minutes of the programme focused on pain and frustration? Its really not a good first impression for first time mothers. YES - its hard for the first few days, YES - it can be painful BUT its so worth the perserverance. Formula milk is packed full of rubbish. Breast milk is what nature provides you with to feed your child,its FREE and you dont have to faff about with making bottles and heating them up. Surely thats enough to convince you that breast IS best!!

my daughter is 15 weeks old. i had great difficulty trying to breastfeed to begin with but now it feels like second nature. i am 20 and have only had 1 old man comment whilst i was feeding my daugher.

What a shame this is only on BBC3. This should be on BBC1. I think this is a really balanced view and looks at it from all angles. I'm breastfeeding my second child and would really love to see more mums giving it a try and getting the support they need to get it established and working well. I used a breastfeeding councellor for my first child and she was a lifesaver

When my first child was born I shared a ward with 5 other mothers. I was the only one who had choose to breastfeed. It was the most awful painful experience for me. I persevered but my breasts, nipples became very sore, raw and made the experience horrible for me and her as I was so tense. My family were very supportive of me giving up but my husbands family were not and actually made me feel guilty. My health visitor advised me to do what I wanted as I was miserable. When my 2nd child was born, I choose not to even try. This is a personal choice. No-one should be pressurised into. My first child who was breastfed has been really sick her entire short life and my second who wasn't has been perfectly healthy.

I have cerebral palsy and found it difficult to hold my daughter in the right position to breastfeed. Instead, I expressed breast milk for ten months and was able to produce enough milk for her without supplementing with formula. Lucy is now eleven months old and thriving. I worry that I've missed out when people talk about having more of a bond with their babies if they actually breastfeed. I know I did my best for my daughter and would recommend others to exclusively express if they are unable to physically breastfeed. It isn't a case of all or nothing, there is a middle ground. It's hard work but worth it.

At last some acknowledgement of how difficult breast feeding is! As a mum of 2, I struggled SO MUCH with my first; bleeding nipples, which scabbed over, which the baby ripped off, the pain of the let down reflex! Second time round was still not pain free, but much more enjoyable. Perseverence is the absolute key! And groups are fantastic!
Mums who breastfeed for no matter how long need a MASSIVE pat on the back.

I was also wondering...are you allowed to breastfeed ANYWHERE in a public place?

I am a junior doctor and having done attachments in paeds and obstetrics at medical school I have been taught all about the benefits of breast feeding but when I saw how hard it is for some mums and what a struggle you had cherry, I want to say please don't feel guilty, my mum had similar problems and gave up breast feeding and 24 years later we're best friends and she's the best mum, I can't deny the benefits for the immune system but there is no way it affects your bond between you and your baby, lisa

im a mum of 5 youngest is 10 weeks old, i breast feed and formula feed him, as i did with all. its a wonderful experience, but not everyone is for it.. too many woman now days, are getting it pushed on them to breast feed. it should be their own choice an not have someone try to discourage or urge them to. end of it, its personal choice.

Uhhh.. HELLO!?!? What about women who don't have breast milk!?!?!?!? I have a 20 month old daughter and when she was born I had NO BREAST MILK WHATSOEVER. NONE. Not a single drop! I tried for weeks to breastfeed, I bought expensive breast pumps, expressed round the clock, NOTHING. WHY IS NO ONE TALKING ABOUT THAT!?!

And to answer the question, Is Breast Best. From my personal experience, NO. My daughter is freakishly strong and healthy. She drags my 10kg bag of rice from the front door to the kitchen!

Motherhood is one big guilt trip on so many levels!!!!! Breast is best for those that can do it. I have four boys, including one set of twins. I tried with my first, but after many problems I had to give up. Second child was in SCUB unit and could not face trying breast feeding with the stress of everything else. Then with twins, an 18 month old and a 7 year old and all that comes with running a busy house and a school run I could not face it. Took the guilt trip, while all these other mothers looked down their nose at me. I think well done to those that do and can, but it is not as simple and natural for everyone.

I breast fed my son til he was 33 months old. Yes breast is best but it does have to be best for mum and baby. They are a team and teams don't work if only half the team are up to playing.

It is a shame she felt she couldn't breastfeed out and about. I did and never noticed anyone staring in fact i had a few people walk by and say there is lovely having lunch out with mum.

It's SO frustrating that the key point - of how guilty women feel about the choices they make - isn't addressed on a major national level. And the health visitors that we're fighting to keep in NHS cuts are UTTERLY useless in terms of educating mothers about how to breastfeed, how to cope with milk coming in, the letting-down reflex etc. I was lucky enough to have a free local breastfeeding counsellor, but would definitely have given up otherwise.
Why should our choices be anyone else's business? Why do we have to be so judgemental?
We should fight for better education about feeding options for ALL mothers, and emphasise that at this stage in food technology, formula is in no way a toxic option for a mother.
Good luck, everyone!

Thank you for this programme! My doughter is 3 months old and is bottle fed. Tried to breast feed for two months and it was an experience far different to what I was expecting....can't even describe how hard the whole exprience was...Since Tilly has been bottle fed I was feeling incredilbly guilty...Cherry thank you for putting into words what many woman struggle with but don't want to admit it...it's like watching a progamme about myself!

With my first child the first 2/3 weeks breastfeeding were absolute hell, my nipples cracked and bled and I had to have someone else latch him on because I couldnt help but push him away! I knew the pain that would come with it but I persisted and eventually my son latched on properly and it got easier and I even enjoyed it. I desperately wanted to give up and bottle feed and I would have done if it wasn't for the support from my family! I in NO way look down on mothers who give up, it is soooooo hard and I believe it is nonsense to say that mothers will not bond as well with their babies if they bottle feed! Breast is best but I don't think anyone can look down on a mother that has at least tried to breastfeed!

CHERRY well done....at last a programme on breastfeeding. I am bfeeding my son who is nearly 3 (Aug) and daughter who is 1 and 3 months. Breastfeeding is natural, bottlefeeding is not. Breasts are for breastfeeding and will not hurt if positioning of baby is correct ie. baby's arm is placed behind mums back. If in pain, seek help from clinic as mentioned on your prog. I think this country suffers from the over sexualisation of women esp. their boobs and children are suffering from this....THANKYOU SO MUCH........

I just saw the first 15 minutes of the programme (will watch the rest later) I watched it as I was concerned, after reading about it, that it would display a negative view of breast feeding and what I have seen so far has confirmed this.
I struggled to breast feed at the start but got involved with my local peer support group and was able to continue feeding. Although it was agony at the start (I remember saying that it was so much worse than the pain of labour!) my memories of breast feeding are full of joy. It was a wonderful, bonding time with my son. I hope this programme doesn't put people off.

Cherry should get over her decision to bottle feed its what happened and won't be detrimental to her baby. I breast feed both my babies for 15 months, it was easy and practical and I loved the bond it created. I was never hugely pro-breast feeding when I was pregnant it just happened to work for me. It did hurt initially but I had good advise and help from my midwife and heath visitor I also went to a breast feeding support group. Help is there if you want it, you just need to perserve. Breast feeding should be the natural chose and there should be more positive attitudes to feeding your baby.

I breastfed my son (now 3) for 6 months, and after a difficult start, really enjoyed it and found it easy and pledged to do the same if I had a second. With my little girl (now 1) I was It was hell from the start, as she had terrible reflux and i had severe PND. The feeding was a constant source of panic and stress, and my baby was violently sick after every feed, and rapidly losing weight. I began to resent her, and became extremely Anxious every time I had to feed her, and felt little or no bond. Finally at 3 months she was diagnosed with reflux, but I found it near Impossible to give her the medication, which led to even more panic. Eventually at 4 months I was so exhausted, still breastfeeding, but hating every minute, and ended up having a breakdown. I was admit to the local Mother and Baby unit, where they did advise me to stop, but I carried on feeding as felt so guilty, even though it was making me and all my family miserable. Eventually, at just over 4 months, I relented, and as soon as my daughter was on the bottle, she started gaining weight, and could take the medication. I felt a huge relief and slowly was able to rebuild my life. I have always been an advocate of breastfeeding, and as I found it so easy with my first, never for a minute thought I would struggle so hard with my second. I still suffer from guilt and panic whenever my little girl is ill, blaming myself. However, every baby and mum is different, and How you feed is a very personal decision, and nobody should ever judge you. One size doesn't fit all.

I had my son in 2003 and tried to breast feed him, I had cracked and sore nipples and eventually ended up with mastitis but was absolutely detrmined to breast fed, he was quite impatient and the milk was not coming out wuick enough, but I continued and combi fed (bottle and breast) until he was 7 months, my daughter arrived 2 years later again I was determined to breast feed and after some red, bleeding and cracked nipples I managed to feed her for 10 and half months, and finally my baby son is now 6 months and I have had not a single problem feeding him, to start with for the first 6 weeks he would be latched on for 40 - 50 mins at a time and to top things off he slept through the night (7 hrs to start with now 13hrs) from day 2, I started him on solids at 5 and half months and my breast feeding is slowly down ;-( .

I think there should be more done to raise the awareness of expressing for your baby. I tried with all 3 of my children but really struggled each time. Insted of giving up and resorting to formula, I choose to exclusivley pump instead. I pumped for 6 months each time with my boys and 2 weeks ago I gave up after 9 months of pumping for my daughter. It sadens me that so many people give up but are not told about the alternative of pumping. I found very little support or encouragement.

I breastfed my daughter and expressed when I went back to work when she was 5 months and I hated it yet my son just took to it easily and at 14 months he won't let up even though I am ready to stop now.

Cherry don't beat yourself up about it, you love your daughter and she knows that, as long as she is fed and happy why worry you are doing a fab job xxx

I am disappointed that this programme is again very negative on breast feeding. This may not have been the intention, but this is full of scare stories and failures. It is programmes like these that stop mothers from breast feeding. There should be less focus on the 'guilt' people feel for not breast feeding and more on the support that exists for mother's who want to breast feed, but may have problems with it. A mother who wants to breast feed but fails a few weeks is not a failure, this is due to a failure of support for that mother, not a failure by the mother. Can we please have a programme on how to breast feed, and the support groups out there. It is not 'best' for your baby just normal. Bog standard normal.

Hi. I breast fed both my boys and struggled badly both times. I had bleeding nipples and pain like hot knives piercing my boobs while I was breast feeding. It's supposed to be the most natural thing to do but it's not easy. It does get better but you really have to want to stick with it. I breast fed my first baby for 6 months. With my second I really thought , well I've done this before it should come easier second time round but it was just as difficult. I only breast fed my second baby for 3 months but don't regret giving up then as I felt I had given him a good start. Breast feeding does get easier after the first couple of weeks when your nipples heal and a routine is established. I am glad I did it in spite of the difficulties. I have two big strong healthy boys and consider myself lucky.

in wales we have the llaeth mam scheme that allows shops/cafes to put stickers in the windows to say come in and breastfeed. It is great and a local cafe here says their daytime business has trebbled because mums will meet up there. They continue to meet up after the babies have grown up.

I feel very sorry for the mother that lost her son and was expecting again but how can she say if the bond that she had with her first child was stronger than the bond I have with my daughter because I didn't breast feed. The only way she could know that is if she decided to bottle feed her 2nd child and then compare. I tried to breast feed I tried to use a pump and it just didn't happen and like Cherry I too became ill. Breast feeding mothers do not judge us bottle feeding mothers. I thought it would be better that my daughter didn't go hungry and that I didn't suffer from depression because I felt like I had failed as a mother. Women who do this let all mothers down.

I really enjoy the special intimacy of breastfeeding, and have been incredibly fortunate to have 2 babies that have latched and fed immediately with no discomfort. I breastfed my first daughter exclusively for about 6 months and until 9 months partially breast/formula. I am currently breastfeeding my second daughter aged 3 months. With both girls, I have worked a little since 3 weeks after birth, as I am a freelance musician and teacher. However, it is usually simply impossible for me to express at work due to the nature of what I do/where I play and teach.
First time, I had the luxury of time to express milk for bottles when I would be away. However this time I am so much busier with my toddler, work etc that I often simply cannot fit in expressing, and am often so unrested that it doesn't 'flow' enough when pumping.
I have therefore had to introduce 1-2 formula feeds a day, as my baby was getting frustrated and hungry.
No one should be made to feel guilty about the use of formula, there are many reasons why breast doesn't work for some women and we are fortunate to live in a society where our babies don't starve as a result.
Also we live demanding lifestyles, I am simply not rested enough this time around to exclusively feed my daughter. Also, from talking to friends, it seems to me that babies mouths and mummies boobs aren't always compatible, just like any other relationship.
However, I do also know mothers who have had secondary success after problems first time by consulting specialist breastfeeding nurses, support from La Leche league etc

Just wanted to say how sorry i was for you when the lady said breastfed babies were more bonded with their mums. I am the mother of three children. I wanted to breastfeed and fed my first child for three months. I was in terrible pain and felt so tense every time she needed to be fed. In the end I realised that being a good mum wasn't anything to do with breast or bottle. A very sensible GP told me that it was ok if I needed to give up for my sanity. I had felt under so much pressure from my health visitor to keep going. When I had my second child I tried again, but it was still too painful. My eldest is now 13 and I think at this point in time you realise that being close to your children, or being a good mum has little to do with how they were fed. All my girls are close to me and the youngest was only breastfed for two days to give her the first milk! I have two sisters, one who breastfed and loved it, and the other who was desperate to do it and had no milk. Please don't feel guilty. We have to support each other as women and not make each other feel bad. Thank goodness formula exists for people like us who just can't do it.

Loving the programme, my little one was doing well with breast feeding in the hospital but when we got home and had him weighed he had dropped 16% so i had to put him on formula, but i did then express my milk for 5 weeks so he got breast milk, i felt like i had let him down and that i was a rubbish mum because i was not doing it through the breast. I can relate to what Cherry has been saying about sticking up for formula feeding when in groups, mainly to make me feel better.

I had a difficult time until my baby was about 6 weeks old, sore nipples and trouble getting the latch right but I was utterly determined to do the right thing by my baby. She is now nearly 22 months old, I'm still breastfeeding, though it's down to twice a day. She's never had an ear infection or a tummy bug. My little girl is happy healthy and I feel so close to her. It's has been the right thing to do and it's saved so much money.

Found this programe really interesting, Im a mother of 2 and suffered horrendous masititus with my first child. The pain and depression I sufferd was just too much and i gave up after 2 weeks. But I wanted to try again when I had my second and it was much more sucessful and I fed for 6 weeks. The programe highlights the lack of the support for breastfeeding mums, and the guilt mums feel when things go wrong. At the end of the day mums should do what they feel is best for them and their baby.

this has been a brill programme and makes me feel less guilty about giving up on feeding. I breastfed my daughter for 3 months, but really struggled, only did it as i felt middle class pressure to do so, and she had severe reflux and actually my breast milk made her feel worse, when we switched to formula she was a different baby. I am educated I know breast milk is preferrable, but I also know that I was a happier person and bonded better with my baby once she was on the bottle. I am expecting my second child and will try and breastfeed but i think more emphasis should be put on mixed feeding, as this is probably what I will end up doing. well done cherry for making bottle feeding less of a taboo, and for also highlighting that breast is good too.

My wife and I had a baby and breast fed him exclusively for the first 6 months, which is not unusual... apart from wifey had breast cancer 10 years previously and had a mastectomy thus only one boob to feed from. Once she had learnt the technique she was a bloomin marvel. It wasn't easy but she stuck to it. Personally I think it is one of the most natural and beautiful things I have ever seen, but that's just me! C'mon mums stop tearing a strip of each other, Tijen is right, nobody has the right to judge others for choosing to breast feed or not breast feed. Cherry, stop beating yourself up... it's obvious you're a fab mum and Coco is very lucky!

I am so glad that you have shown Emma succeeding in breastfeeding cause the first 20 minutes of the programme I was angry at how negative it was towards breastfeeding. Good for you Emma for persevering! I don't agree with you suggesting that people who breast feed are "earth mothers". They are doing what comes naturally to them. I am slightly shocked at the stupid comment of the teenager who said "breasts are for sex and for showing off".
I am breast feeding and have been for 5 months and will continue to for the year. I think there is not enough time given to talk about breast feeding in the ante natal classes. This is something that needs to be dealt with.
I can see why you gave up so soon into your baby being with you. In the hospital two days after my baby was born my nipples were sore and bleeding. Whenever baby was winded milk and blood was coming up. It was very sore to feed her but I was determined for the health benefits for her - and me. I would be biting my lip and eyes watering but now its second nature and you don't even feel anything. With the help of lansinoh and the determination my nipples finally healed but still hurt. That carried on for about a month.
I understand that sometimes breastfeeding can't happen for all women but I don't agree with those who don't even give it a good go before resorting to bottles. I feel that there are so many women out there who give the bottle because they want to return the the life they had, like going out drinking etc..
But if you look at it, its only a small fraction of your life taken up with raising your baby. Give it a go! Its hard work, time consuming at the start but TOTALLY worth it!

This is a good programme on breast feeding, I tryed breast feeding my daughter when she was first born, unfortunately she wouldnt lach on, the midwife was very force with my daughter and trying to get her to lach on, it was very upsetting to me to see my daughter crying as she was been forced. I decided to go to bottle, this was my decision and yes it was hard not to breast feed and not to get that feeling of it, but I can tell you now, my daughter and I have the most wonderful relationship, everybody says that we have a wonderful bond. My daughter is a very bright, happy, 4 year old who is hardly ever ever sick. Where mothers who I have known to breast feed there children are always sick and visting the docters, my daughter has visited the docters about twice in the last year and half. She is doing absolutely fantastic at school (Teachers words) and I have no worries on her development and progress at all.

I had my son at 22years old, and I breastfed for 3 weeks. I'm now 25 this year, and when I have my second child I would definitely breastfeed again. I feel quite upset when people pass judgement on others on how to feed their child. I know that breast is best for babies, but if somebody wants to bottlefeed then I respect that. I certainly felt uncomfortable to feed in public because how ignorant others can be towards breastfeeding. It is socially accepted in all other countries, just here in England it is such a taboo subject. Social changes need to be made in the UK. I was in a cafe where 2 older women had a pop at a lady breastfeeding, I was so angry! So that baby can't be fed?!

After weeks of pain and difficulty I breastfed my son for 6 months and am glad I persisted. However, I am not at all adverse to formula and gave my son a bottle of formula last thing before bed right from the word go. This meant he always slept really well as I was sure he'd had a good feed before bedtime. I believe combination feeding is the way forward! This pressure to exclusively breast feed is nonsense and the guilt that is put upon you is outrageous.

I bottle fed my first child and continue to successfully breastfeed my second child (6 months old). I understand the guilt that Cherry feels after bottle feeding her daughter but can honestly say that the bond I have with both my children is the same. I don't feel any closer to my daughter than my son having breast fed her. Based on my experience I don't think Cherry should feel that her relationship with her daugher has been harmed.

Personally I have tried to breastfeed twice and found it extremely difficult both times. It is very easy for a mother to say that breast is best if you can breastfeed - even if it was painful for the first month.

I breast fed both mine for 2 months and it ruined those months for me - I was afraid to go out and my life revolved around feed times and like many others I was in tears thinking about feeding. If anything any bond would have been broken due to the agony that I was going through.

I swapped to formula after the advice of a lactitian consultant and felt so much better. I now have the philosophy of happy mummy = happy baby.

No one can possibly say the difference in bonds whether it be through bottle or boob.

5yrs old is wrong to me to still be feeding tho !!

I am still breastfeeding 6 months in, but really struggled at the begining and very nearly gave up -we paid for a private breast feeding nurse in desperation - they are on call 24hrs, £50 for an hour, but you would pay anything in the small hours if you really believe it's the right thing.
I think one of the issues is that the NHS classes (during pregnancy) tell you that if it hurts,the latch is wrong-but they need to make it clear that there will be some significnt pain at the beggining even when the latch is correct. I understand that they may want to play this down because t could put people off but we accept that labour hurts and still go through with it.
When i was at my most sore and cracked, i expressed for a couple of days to let my nipples heal which was the best thing i ever did - bubs is now equally happy with a bottle as a boob, which takes the pressure off me and gve me a chance to catch my breath....

Unfortunately the majority of the first half of the programme would have put off anyone considering breastfeeding. You made it seem like the choice was only to breastfeed and suffer pain or stop completely.
My situation is very common: I breastfed with pain for the first 2 weeks then the pain eased off as my body got used to it. I now combine breastfeeding with formula in the evening. It is not all or nothing and it certainly is not a case of either being an extreme breastfeeder for months/years versus bottle only.
Also the issue of breastfeeding in public is so much easier these days with breastfeeding aprons sold in high street shops. I certainly breastfeed very discretely and go to breastfeeding rooms where available.

hi cherry im a 26 year old mom and my little boy is 7 months old on sunday i breast feed for 2 months and is was the worst time ever i wanted to do what was best for my little boy it killed me to carry on for that long my my little boy would feed for 3 hours at a time i couldnt go out cuz i didnt want to do it in public i brought a brest pump (both types) but i just wasnt get enough milk out to feed him i felt so bad that i couldnt give my baby what he wanted it got to the point that i hated feeding him and thats not right you are ment to enjoy every minute with your child my nipples was sore would burn like mad when the cold got on them i felt like i was going to have a break down i went to the health vistor to see if she could get me a better pump i was given a day so it kept me going thinking i only have to do it till then but the day came and i didnt get one i was then told to go to a group but by that time my mind was made up i was going to bottle feed him and the way i felt was great i enjoyed feeding him which is the way it should be i think everyone is different and i think people should try before bottle but when it gets to much change cuz its ment to be the best time of your ife not the most stressful xxx i love the name cocco

I found breast feeding incredibly difficult at first. I started giving my daughter formula after 8 days, and expressed as much as possible. I cried and felt extremely guilty and that I was letting her down. After struggling for another 3 weeks over christmas and new year I went to the support group of LLL. My daughter was diagnosed with tongue tie and was treated at week 6. It took another 6 weeks for things to improve noticably. I expressed and expressed and since she was 12 weeks we are exclusively breast feeding. I feel so happy now that I persevered, and my daughter gives me very happy smiles whist feeding. The only thing holding me back now is public attitudes. There are very few places that are comfortable to feed her in public, baby change and toilets being the main private places. Which is disgusting really, would we eat in the toilet?

My personal belief is that each Mum should do what is best for her and her baby and their situation whether that be breastfeeding or bottle feeding.
I have two baby boys, my eldest is 2.5 years and was breastfed for 14.5 months and my youngest is 6 months and is currently still breastfeeding.
I initially really struggled with breastfeeding on my first, I found it very difficult, painful, developed mastitis, was very embarrassed by breastfeeding in public and exhausted by his feeding demands (every two hours). My second was a different matter, He took to feeding on the first go and I had very little discomfort and had battled my own embarrassment issues in the 14.5 months i fed the first.
For me personally i felt that given my body had grown my babies, it was my body/nature that knew how to provide best for each baby and that was my driving force to continue to feed.
I feel very lucky to have been able ( and continue) to breastfeed but understand why some Mum's choose to bottle feed.

Breast feeding is different with each child, after b/f four I found this fascinating, they all got into good and bad habits - quite often relating to their individual physical differences. But being a midwife didnt make it any less uncomfortable!! However I did have the knowlegde of how to correctly position and recognise when they were on properly, and it is an art to learn! Unfortunately, because we in our culture do not freely see and learn about the normality from a young age surrounding b/f - we are left watching debates like this. I think only by educating youngsters from preschool that it is the normal way to feed. We will only educate a few at teenage stage, the cycle needs to change from grassroots up. I support taking all bottles away from school settings, replacing them with tabbards with say, flowers on the front to symbolise where you feed from without causing any "offence" to anyone! It would be a subtle way of youngsters learning about normal feeding for mammals - from the mammary gland!

I really hope this programme does not put off women from feeding and persisting when they do and have problems. There are so many groups to help and support you beyond a mid wife who is seen as pushing it on women. I hope women reach out to those groups more. And I hope women and girls look beyond and see boobs as not just sexual!!

I breast feed my first baby for 6 weeks but couldn't breast feed my second i did feel guilty because of the presure but she was small and i just wanted her to gain weight, I feel as close to my first as much as my second. My sister breast feed in public in cafe and was subjected to comments by an elderly couple when did it all become wrong to breast feed in public? we have a local breast feeding cafe which i found helpful.I had pierced nipples and didn't realise how it would affect the flow of milk but becuase it scars the duct's it come out of the sides and doesn't come out properly

I breast feed my daughter Grace for 2years 3 months, she has major food allergies and I had to exclude dairy, soya, egg, fish and many other foods in order to get my daughter well. She was born on the 75th percentil but dropped in her first 8 weeks of life down to the 25th percentil. I found breast feeding extreemly painfull in the first 6weeks, I wish that I could have convinced the Paeds as to what was wrong with her in order to get a suitable formula for her condition. It took 11 months to get the much needed formula, by which point because of the pain she had suffered breast feeding was so engrained in her coping statergies that, she still at 3years 3months drinks bottles when she is in pain and contantly wants her hand on my breast for comfort, which is fround on be almost everyone around me.

I have three children, one of which I bottlefed and the younger two were breastfed. Your method of feeding your children does NOT affect your bond with your children. I love all of my children the same and breast or bottle has never come into the equation. Why do we as women beat ourselves up over this issue? Babies need to be fed and if you choose breast or bottle the baby doesn't mind.

I think this is actually refreshingly honest and mirrors a lot of my own experiences. I managed to breastfeed my two boys for 8 and 9 months I was lucky but it was not easy. In fact the second time round I dreaded it more than the birth. But I got a lot of help mainly from some amazing people at the baby cafe. I also had mastitis, thrush, bleeding nipples etc.

I would never tell someone else they had to breast feed. I did not bond with my baby more because I breast fed..... And yes I felt guilty when I finally stopped feeding.

Cherry thanks for bringing this to peoples attention. Your little girl looks lovely and very healthy and very much loved you have nothing to feel guilty about.

I like this programme, Cherry is so real and it seems all opinions are expressed. My baby had a problem with tongue tie and I feel there needs to be more on that regarding the struggles it can bring to breastfeeding and that there is help out there!!

Enjoying programme but have been in tears most of the time - bit of an emotional subject! Cherry, my heart really goes out to you - I remember in my antenatal group we were all quite keen to breastfeed, but only about half managed despite everyone's best efforts. Now I realise access to a midwife, health visitor or breastfeeding counsellor is very important in helping mothers continue, as so many problems can be solved with help, but we didn't all realise this at the time.

Just want to say I breastfeed my baby she is now 3 yrs still loves it in morning and night, I had a hard time, milk didnt come in stayed in hospital for 9 days told by nurses that i was a hopeless mother because my baby was losing weight, but i continued cuts brusies. Have been turned away from every cafe in my local area for putting baby under muslins square to feed, but i sat in parks wqith scarf coats beeing held by my mother over me. If it wasnt for my husband and my mother i would have quit due to society. People still say why do you continue my little girl is 3yrs and would be so upset if she couldnt have it, and I dont see why she cant. as my milk is still there,and people have been so nasty but i dont care anymore, and my little girl has tonsilitusitus a lot and has to go back to puree and she doesnt like to drink or eat when she has a very bad throat but she takes to the boob so I am not going to stop her. Glad you done this programme but i think society has to change, it is so hard especially in public.

There is no debate. Breast is best. A baby needs to be exclusively breast fed for at least 6 months and any longer is a bonus. I am a registered nurse and breast fed both of my babies for the first 8 months. My second baby weighed over 9lbs, a relative at the time made a comment that i would have to put the baby on the bottle due to his size. I told her to leave the house and was discussed. My baby had his first ever bottle at 8 months. Pressure and opinions from family and friends puts influences and negativity on breast feeding mothers. Be like me and ignore other people, be an instinctive mum and do what is right for your baby. Sorry, but the excuses of the baby is not getting enough or you dont know how much they are getting or the favorite, the baby is not settling are just excuses mums use in order to stop feeding. The fact is breast feeding can be draining, tiring and time consuming. But thats part and parcel of being a mum.

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I found breastfeeding utterly painful for the first few weeks but I persevered and continued to feed my little boy for 17 months. It's only been a few weeks since I stopped and I miss it terribly. Best thing I have ever done. Feel so proud. Wish that it worked for everyone. It's such hard work but it's what I wanted to do. I never had to get my boobs out in public. There are breastfeeding friendly clothes now! I fed my little boy on park benches, in restaurants and so many other places. I found clothing that kept it discreat. Anyway....breastfeeding is best if you want to do it! Like everything in life...what works for one doesn't work for all. Good luck to all you yummy mummies..xx

I also had a difficult birth and my baby was in special care for a week, her fluids needed to be monitored so I had no choice but to give her formula for a day or 2 until my milk came in. She was able to latch on well after that and I was feeding by the time I left hospital. But another week on and I was finding it really hard and for another week was slowly sinking with the pressure until one friday night at around midnight I was petrified that she would need another feed, so my husband ended up at a 24 hour supermarket buying cartons of formula and a breast pump! Another week of expressing and I was in serious pain. I went to the breastfeeding centres but still couldn't do it and was made to feel so so guilty by health visitors that I was in bits. Thankfully my very sensible midwife came out to see me and told me to try bottle feeding rather than a bit of both. BEST decision I could have made for ME. Everyone is different and mums shouldn't be made to feel so guilty about not being able to do it. I always snuggled with my baby when giving her a bottle so as not to miss out on the bonding, I agree that its not nice to see babies in their pushchairs with a bottle in their mouth, I always stopped and made time, just as if you were breastfeeding. We have a very strong bond. In 2 years she has had no more than 3 bouts of sickness and is very healthy. And as for intelligence - it's embarrassing to be honest as she is more advanced than any of her peers. So, I say (as a middle class mum in my 30s - who works with young children) DON'T be made to feel guilty if you can't! I don't anymore, and 5 weeks away from number 2, am getting the bottles and formula ready - I won't be feeling guilty if it doesn't work again!!!!!

thank you for this program,,you have spoken about the feelings millions of women have about "failed breast feeding",,,the guilt is something ive taken many years to reconcile myself with,,the "boobie police" have a lot to answer for and dont realise many women have a damn good reason,,personally i have macromastia,,otherwise known as huge boobs,,(38 kk) it was very very difficult,,and very painfull despite a lot of support. i strongly object at being told im less of a mother and that it will result in my children being insecure and damaged emotionally,,,those are the exact words ive had said to me,,,how dare people judge!!! thank you x

I breastfed my first two babies and bottlefed my third.

I was diagnosed with a very aggressive and very rare non Hodgkins lymphoma when I was 30 weeks pregnant and had to have the baby immediately as I only had weeks to live. I had to start very aggressive chemotherapy and needed it days after I'd had my daughter. She went straight into the SCBU and I was immediately separated from her. I was unable to breastfeed her as the toxins from the chemotherapy went into the breast milk. I was absolutely distraught at being unable to breastfeed but had no choice but to accept this.

Three years on, two years in remission, having undergone a year of desperate treatment including a bone marrow transplant when I nearly died and radiotherapy, and having spent large patches of time away from my newborn baby, I can honestly say that I feel as connected and bonded to my third daughter as I do to my first two children.

I do think that the experience of breastfeeding is an amazing one and the experience of bottle feeding doesn't compare - but I don't think it means that you are any less bonded or connected to your child, and I guess I could have felt very disconnected given my situation.

It might have been useful on the programme to have looked at someone like me who breast fed and bottle fed. The point is I think that there is so much more than connecting and bonding and being a good mother than how you feed your baby in its first few months.

I still feel sad that I couldn't breastfeed my third daughter - but I think that is my loss more than hers. She by the way is easily as bright and sorted as my other two breast fed children.

Cherry is amazing. She is so not a failure to her daughter. She is a great mum- I don't know personaly but she is an awesome person and she is a awesome role model to me and she will be a role model to her daughter also! No matter what you do breast feed or bottle feed then who cares, you still love your child and yes you may feel guility but thats what you may feel but your not, ITs amazing that you are helping Emma to help her concor her fear and more confident. :)

With my first daughter at 18 I tried breast feeding for 4 months... I was crying into a pillow every time due to how much pain I was in, my partner at the time forced me to stop due to the pain and stress, it upsetted me so he did the feeding, sadly it went to them having a much better bond. With my second at 21 I was fully able to breast feed and felt great... was hard to do it out and about due to people giving looks but some of the time I was more angry than shy and just did it anyway as he needed a feed. With my youngest now 10 1/2 months... I fed her for 6 months and it was very tiring and also got in the way of her boding with her father due to him wanted to be part of the feeding but I was able to keep it up and I wish that on the times I was out and needing to feed, that when I wanted to feed some where quiet due to her being tired that I didn't have to either sit under stairs in restaurants or in the bathrooms... lots of times there hasn't even been anywhere to sit. I think it is really bad that this way of feeding still hasn't been made more comfortable or acceptable in the way people have been brought up or the resources for us mom's.

Personally, I can totally relate to Cherry's experience of breastfeeding. I really struggled, I managed 9weeks of mixed feeding and I struggled through everyday of those 9weeks. My daughter is now 10months and I still question whether I could have managed to breastfeed for longer. One of my problems was that I felt I couldn't ask for advice because I have breast implants, which I didn't feel I could discuss with the midwives or health visitors for fear of being judged. I don't think I produced enough milk because of my implants and I think the engorgement pain was magnified, but who knows what each woman feels? The guilt still bothers me and I often wonder whether I could breastfeed for longer with my second child, if or when that happens.

I find a lot of the attitudes of the people promoting breast feeding really patronising. I tried breast feeding my children and it just did not work for us. I found it painful and upsetting. I do not appreciate being told I have not got the same bond with my child as a a breast feeding mother does, in fact it makes me very angry and feel as though I am being forced to justify my decisions and the strength of my feelings for my sons. I think that new motherhood is a difficult enough time for a lot of people and we do not need fanatics making us feel guilty. I truly believe that if the mother is stressed and upset with breast feeding then that will effect her bond and relationship with her baby a lot more than a happy mummy with a bottle. Really enjoyed this programme.

Nobody helped me at the hospital and actually told me I couldnt breastfeed because I had had a breast reduction 10 years earlier. 9 days after giving birth I wad devastated so called an advicer and they told me I should try anyway. I had my baby at my breasts for around 10/15 hours a day in order to produce more milk. At the end of each endless 'session' I expressed the last drops as baby would of course fall asleep in the meantime. Finally I had to add a bottle after each feed as my milk was not enough anyway. I did this for 16 weeks and got very Ill emotionally. I just want to say that I found the aftercare in the UK absolutely appalling: health visitors were adamant that i should breastfeed my baby but no one was interested in what was happening to me. Three years later, I have not recovered...

Lauraperrins - your comment is spot on!

I'm so frustrated and dissapointed watching this. I'm a 'normal' 29 year old 1st time Mum who is breast and bottle feeding my baby. Having it on cornflakes and doing it when child in 5 years old is not a fair or encouraging representation. The constant references to difficulties and focusing on problems is only going to discourage especially teenage mums, what a waste of a good platform to show a well needed balanced view on this.

hi cherry, my views on breast feeding are simple, im on the fence its up to mam and baby if this is what theey want. Just because a mam wants to breast feed doesn't mean the baby will go along with it and like you found out this isnt always the way. latching on is always the main cause of pain and half 3 in the mornin is usually the time that you dont notice if baby is latched on properly.
Also the programme has made out that its young mams and teenagers who are against it which as a 22 year old mother who breast fed i have to say is wrong. i was 21 when i had my daughter and i loved breast feeding but after 9weeks i wasnt producing enough milk to keep up with my daughter so after 2weeks of persistence i gave in and when my partner fed my daughter i hated it because that was mine and my daughters thing and i did feel guilty, as like you have discussed in the programme the pro's out way the cons and for baby immune system it is better than formula.
at first i was nervous about doing it in public but after a while i didnt care my babies hunger outwayed my own embarrassment and nerves.
when my daughter was born she was taken to neo natal because she stopped breathing i expressed whilst she was in neo natal and it was fed to her through a tube i was determined to give my daughter any extra help i could and my breast milk helped my baby girl.
she is now 11months and im 20weeks pregnant with my 2nd child and i hope to breast feed again.
breast feeding is a personal decission between mam and baby and people shouldnt look down their nose at which ever decision is made. i think breast feeding needs to be advertised more and talked about more so that new mams no matter their age know its the norm its healthy and also the more people know then the more people wont shun you if you choose to breast feed or if you dont.
lauren x

Its a real shame you did not touch on why women have problems breast feeding, or even touch on what support would have helped you.
With the cut backs in Maternity services women spend very little time in hospital and midwives provide limited home visits it is not surprising that women have problems starting to feed.
It was good to show Emma getting breast feeding help - and that It doesn't hurt